Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ben kept himself from pacing.

If he let himself pace, his feet would take him to Mal and the others, and he had a feeling that he wouldn't be welcomed.

Not that he could blame them.

He hadn't done anything to defend them, after all, had let Chad spit those words in their face and did absolutely nothing, was completely useless to them.

He barely defended them in front of his father, couldn't utter more than a sentence in the presence of that disappointed gaze.

("This was bound to happen," his father had said, taking his glasses off to clean them with his handkerchief, speaking as if he were lecturing about some universal truth.

"It wasn't their fault," Ben had said, trying to summon his righteous anger to the forefront, where it was supposed to be, instead of the growing dread of facing his father where everyone could witness.

"No," his father had agreed, surprising Ben for a too brief moment, "it was yours." The disappointment on his face, in his voice, was plain for all to view, and after he returned his glasses to their proper place, his father took his mother's arm and led her away from Ben, leaving him to stand there and bear the weight of several dozen gazes, somehow less heavy than that of his own shame.)

In that small moment, for that small amount of time, Ben had felt what it was like to be in Mal's shoes, in all of their shoes, to have a crowd, peers, your own parents, turn on you.

And that small moment was nowhere enough for Ben to truly understand. They've suffered so much already, and yet I just stood there, he thought, hands opening and closing into fists.

He just stood there when Cinderella and Kit had come forward for Chad, fretting both over their son and the reactions of Mal and the others. He just stood there while Audrey rebuked Chad in front of his parents, doing her best to speak quietly but not reining in her harshness. He just stood there as Leah stared at him, an unreadable expression on her face.

He just stood there.

Why couldn't he be better?

A knock broke into his thoughts, and he moved toward his door as if on autopilot.

The day couldn't get any worse.

Audrey blinked up at him when he opened the door, and before he could even say anything, she had her arms around him.

Numbly, he hugged her back, letting her walk him back into the room. He could feel her shoulders shaking, and that only made him hug her tighter. "Are you okay?"

She pulled back in a flash, aghast. "Am I okay? Ben, are you okay?"

He blinked. "Of course."

"Of course," Audrey repeated, incredulous. Her hands came up to frame his face, her brow creased with worry. "Ben..."

"Today isn't about me," he said gently, even as a treacherous part of him reveled in her touch.

"That isn't entirely true," Jane said, surprising him — she hadn't made a sound.

Ben stared at her, at the way she had closed the door but had not stepped into the room properly, at the way her hair was now back to the way it was before Mal had spelled it, at the way she had her chin lowered, just a fraction, as if in apology.

As if in guilt.

"I wasn't the one humiliated today," he said, taking one step away from Audrey, looking at Jane anew. Something was going on, something he couldn't see.

Or maybe it was always there, and he had just refused to see it.

As if she could read his thoughts, Jane held back most of her wince. "But—"

"Ben, how can you just stand here so calmly? Mal assaulted Jane with magic!" Audrey said, brow furrowed as she looked between them. "And I know that their behavior in the gardens was—"

"Why does no one question Chad's behavior?" Ben demanded, tired of it all. "This is the second time he's publicly humiliated them."

Audrey took a steadying breath. "I wasn't condemning their behavior; if you'd let me finish, I was going to say justifiable. And Chad's been a shithead since the end of middle school."

Ben frowned. "And since when does that excuse someone's behavior?"

"It doesn't," Audrey agreed easily, a pointed look sent Ben's way. "So what of Mal's behavior toward Jane?"

Damn, Ben thought, and he hesitated. "It was unprovoked?" He glanced at Jane, wondering if that were the reason she looked so... contrite.

"Ben!" Audrey exclaimed, affronted. "Jane wouldn't provoke anyone!"

I'd have thought so too, he thought, eyes not leaving Jane's face. "And they wouldn't have done anything unless they had reason," he said aloud instead. "Jane?"

Jane's jaw flexed — and for a moment, Ben was oddly reminded of Mal — and she spoke quietly. "I... might have said something to Mal without taking into consideration how the events today made her feel..."

Audrey stared at Jane, an expression akin to betrayal on her face. "Jane..."

So Audrey hadn't seen the bigger picture either, Ben thought, and he was mildly comforted by that fact; at least he wasn't alone in his ignorance.

"I thought I could calm things, but I obviously used the wrong words," she continued, and even now, even under the guilt, there was calculation in her eyes.

This is a side of her I haven't seen before, Ben thought, trying to fight down the urge to openly study her expressions. "I'm sorry she did that to you. I'll have a talk with her, explain that you didn't mean whatever you said how she took it."

"No, don't," she said, perhaps a touch too quickly. She let out a quick sigh, offered him a small smile. "It's just hair, Ben."

Though her words rang true enough, Ben could see that her shoulders were a fraction tenser than before his offer. He didn't know what to make of that, didn't know whether she didn't want him talking to Mal about whatever she had said, or if she didn't want him talking to Mal at all.

"I'll talk to Chad then," he said instead, just to break the silence, Jane's stare beginning to unnerve him.

"You won't have to do that either," Jane said, and she seemed relieved he changed tactics.

Which was a new development, considering mentioning Chad used to make her uncomfortable.

"Why not?" he asked automatically, still fascinated by Jane's behavior.

"His parents took him aside, after I chewed him out," Audrey said on a sigh, her expression darkening. "Evie's little mirror trick showed some pretty damning evidence against him, and both Grammy and I confirmed what we saw to them. They weren't happy, and they promised appropriate measures would be taken."

For a moment, Audrey looked down right murderous.

Ben really had no idea what to say to that, as he couldn't imagine what the mirror could reveal to be so damning, especially since Audrey had put up with a lot from Chad in the past. Still, given the fact that Chad behaved out of line toward Mal and the others twice now... "It isn't enough."

"Ben," Jane said, soft, hesitant. "Will you be okay?"

"Of course. This whole incident has only strengthened my resolve." He had to wonder why the focus was always on him. He wasn't that special. He didn't have hardships — not like others. "I won't abandon them," he promised aloud, more to himself than the girls.

His words caused Jane to make a face, but it was gone as soon as it came.

"What aren't you saying?" he asked her, his intrigue finally getting the best of him, even though a part of him didn't want to know what caused Jane to drop the apparent facade she had been wearing.

Jane winced fully. "Don't ask questions," she said slowly, "if you don't want questions asked in return." She leveled him with a look, telegraphing a warning, even if it looked like it pained her to do so.

Ben stared at Jane, heart racing. She knows, he thought as panic began to well up in his stomach, and he wondered at just how much she did know, and how.

"What does that mean?" Audrey asked, confused, as she looked between them.

"I don't want you to get hurt, Ben," Jane said earnestly, her eyes searching his face, pleading.

Her admission relaxed his nerves some, but he could only offer her the smallest of smiles. "Getting hurt is a part of life."

Her eyes narrowed minutely. "But sometimes it can be prevented."

A shiver ran through him, unbidden. "I'm fine. I'll be okay."

"Will you?" Audrey asked quietly. "I have no idea what this lovely little secret conversation you two are clearly having is about, but." She cut herself off with a sigh, rubbing at her temple. When she looked at Ben, she did so in the same way she had when she first found out about his father. "Ben, will you truly be okay?"

I'm so glad I haven't lost you, he thought, the weeks they had gone without speaking truly sinking in at that moment. Instead of answering her outright, he said, "Trust in me."

"I do," came her immediate response, and she moved just as quick to pull him into a hug, one which he gladly returned.

God, did he miss her.

"And if you need me for anything," she said, more into his shoulder, allowing him to hug her tighter, closer, "you know where to find me."

"I do," he whispered, not wanting to let her go, but release her he did. He did his best to smile for her, and it helped that she gave him one in return, cupping his cheek.

"Such a sap," she teased, but there was too much fondness in her tone, in her expression, and she leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Try to get some sleep tonight."

"Yes, ma'am," he intoned, chuckling at her eye roll.

"I'll see you in class tomorrow." Audrey glanced between him and Jane again. Whatever she garnered made the corners of her lips twitch downward, but only for a moment. She nodded. "Good night." With that, she turned and left them, the door clicking shut in her wake almost too loud in the now quiet room.

Jane stared at Ben, and he stared right back.

"My trust in you isn't the issue, Ben," Jane said eventually.

"What do you know?" he asked, tired enough that he wasn't in the frame of mind to deal with crypticness anymore.

Oddly, incredulously, he felt like he was having a battle of wits the likes of which he had with Mal or Carlos; he definitely didn't have the brain power for that right now.

"I told you not to ask questions," Jane said, apologetic, save for the glint in her eyes. "The truth should be freely given, not taken by force."

Well, that's true enough, he thought, mulling over their conversation. "Jane," he breathed out, and he'd rather not be doing this with yet another person he cared about. "Whatever it is you're doing, can you stop?"

"I ask you the same," she said, and this time she was unashamed.

Ben stared, nerves scattering. "I'm, I'm not doing anything."

Her gaze on him was unwavering. "You're choosing, Ben."

Well shit, he thought, wondering how he could rein in the conversation. "And you're avoiding my question."

"You'll not steal the truth from me. I'm doing my duty," she said, and for the first time, she averted her eyes, her gaze dropping to the floor. "You do know what I am, right?"

"Yes, but that isn't yet," Ben said, wanting to alleviate her trepidation despite it all, wanting her to remain Jane for just a little longer. "You still have plenty of time before that, Jane."

Truthfully, he had no idea when she would step into a role no fourteen-year-old human should, but Jane was no mere fourteen-year-old human. He had no idea what determined the speed at which the clock of her destiny ticked away the time, but Ben could stand by her side until that time came. He could only offer what amounted to platitudes in the hope of easing Jane's mind.

Though, judging by the way a ghost of a smile lingered on Jane's lips, Ben doubted he even managed to pull that off.

"I didn't want to add stress to your week," she said quietly, regret clearly painted on her features for a few long moments before she steeled herself, looking Ben in the eye once more, "but if you're not going to stop, neither am I."

What can I do to convince you, he thought, watching her search his face, watching as whatever she found there had her turning toward the door.

"I love them, Jane," Ben said, practically blurted out, but the words were true, were firm, even if they were tinged with desperation.

His words made her pause, and when she looked at him, her expression softened. "Love doesn't absolve," she said, gentle but firm, her softness melting minutely. "Love doesn't excuse, as you well know."

Ben flinched.

The action returned the softness fully to her features, kindness in her eyes. "Love doesn't change anything, it simply is. Tread carefully."

"You think they don't love me," Ben said, and it wasn't a question. She put the idea of a spell in Audrey's head, he thought, realization dawning as he recalled her behavior, her words before Audrey had confronted him that day.

"I think," she began, that softness still there, though the kindness turned sad, maybe even regretful, "they need to have a serious talk with you, as equals."

With the love spell out of the picture, Ben thought, hearing her unspoken sentiment. "You told me once," he found himself saying, "that you were on my side. For better or worse."

He remembered being so floored at her admission, remembered being awed that this girl, so young in body but so ancient in soul, who had only ever spoken casually to him before he was announced successor to the high crown, had looked him in the eye and sworn unto him her fidelity without hesitation.

Her oath made all the more weighty when he realized what she would become.

"I am on your side," she said, adamant, a fierceness so strong burning in her eyes. "And I am sorry for causing you stress." She paused, jaw flexing as she deliberated on her next words. "But being on your side does not mean I will sit idly by while someone is planning something that could hurt you, just because you've given them free pass."

Ben stared at Jane, words escaping him as he looked upon the conviction in her eyes. Despite that, despite the firmness of her words, there was no ill will to her features, in her bearing; in fact, he swore there was a plea radiating from her being.

As if sensing his thoughts, Jane once again softened. "I don't want to be right, Ben." She moved to the door, pausing with her hand on the knob, and she glanced at him, that silent plea growing. "Please, talk to them properly. Good night."

And she was gone.

Her absence did nothing to lessen the impact of her words, of the revelation they held, and Ben had to actually sit down, his unsteady feet taking him to the foot of his bed, where he plopped down unceremoniously enough that he almost slid off.

He knew this day would be trying, what with it being Family Day and the last weekend before his coronation, but Ben could never have predicted just how much the day's events would drain him.

He could never have predicted the day's events unfolding how they did, either.

Taking a deep breath, Ben held it for a few seconds before letting it out. Despite Jane's words, something told Ben he was not to seek them out right now; they seemed too much like they were after the Halloween prank, the fact that Carlos got them all out of there the only thing that kept Mal from lashing out. And while he was dating Mal, and the others by extension, Ben got the impression that he wouldn't be allowed to witness the way Mal undid the damage.

He couldn't change what had transpired today, didn't know how to help them in a way that wouldn't be pushing; all he could do was be there for them tomorrow, and the days after.

He hoped that would be enough, even though the little voice in the back of his mind kept telling him it would never be enough.

Why couldn't he be better?

———

"Now, as this is not a bloodline ascension, there will be no need for pomp and circumstance," Fairy Godmother said, her voice much too cheery as it echoed in the empty cathedral. "There will be no anointing, no orb and sceptre, no ring or robe, just a crown and a blessing." She leaned in, patting Ben's shoulder good-naturedly. "Not that you need a blessing, hm, dear?" She glanced at Mal and winked as Ben's smile turned bashful.

Mal did her best to smile.

It seemed like all she had done today, try her best to smile, to assure Carlos that she was better now, to wave away Ben's obvious but silent concern, and she had accepted Ben's invitation to join him at his coronation rehearsal without much thought other than appeasing him.

When she accepted his offer, though, Mal hadn't entirely prepared herself for what her acceptance entailed. Yes, she figured it was a good opportunity to see the cathedral up close, to personally case the building without much suspicion, to better know how to plan the theft and their escape.

However, she hadn't counted on Fairy Godmother cooing at her and insisting she sit in one of the wide, ornate chairs situated on top of the dais; there were four of them, their tall backs bearing the Auradonian coat of arms, and they were in two rows, with the back two chairs placed in the corner of the dais and the front two chairs angled in front of them, all leading to a podium in the center front.

According to Fairy Godmother, the podium was to hold her wand, protected until it was time to bless Ben.

But before that, the passage of the crown needed to occur: Fairy Godmother would take the crown from Adam's head and place it upon Ben's. Adam and Belle would then move to the back two chairs, symbolizing their willingness to acquiescence to Ben's right to rule. Ben would then take a knee to swear some oaths before finally being blessed.

All while Mal had to be there, on top of the dais, for the entire cathedral to see.

She could barely do it now, watching Ben and Fairy Godmother go through the motions at a relaxing pace, nodding in what she hoped was a polite way whenever Fairy Godmother made it a point to explain some of the ceremony to her, no doubt as a ploy to keep Mal from feeling isolated — as if she could feel anything else.

If she couldn't handle it now, how could she hope to handle the real thing?

"Aren't you glad this isn't a divine right ceremony?" Fairy Godmother asked Mal, bringing her out of her thoughts.

She could only shrug. "I don't know the difference."

"Trust me," Ben said, a little smile on his lips, "you'd rather this way than the divine right. It's longer, and though it might not seem possible, even more formal."

Mal knew she was making a face, but she couldn't help it. Besides, it didn't seem to bother the other two.

"Well, formality can be good, Ben," Fairy Godmother said, nodding in a way that tried to be motherly. "After all, being respected by your fellow sovereigns and subjects is important."

Mal blinked.

"You know something I don't?" Ben asked, amused.

Fairy Godmother laughed. "Now, now, I know you're respected by the other sovereigns. Despite the somewhat rocky start, you are held in high regard. I'm merely saying formality has its uses."

"Of course," Ben said, giving a little nod, but there was something off about his smile...

And how Mal hated that she could tell he was keeping something in, hated that she could tell and Fairy Godmother seemingly couldn't.

Rocky start, she said; does she mean with Ben's proclamation, Mal thought as she studied them, taking in how Fairy Godmother doted on Ben, how Ben's features held minute traces of discomfort.

"Oh, Goodness me!" Fairy Godmother exclaimed, abrupt enough that Mal nearly startled. "I think we've carried on a little longer than we should have. You have classes tomorrow, after all."

"Don't worry, we'll get back with plenty of time," Ben assured as he began walking with Fairy Godmother toward the exit.

"There's a good lad," she practically cooed, patting his shoulder. "No need to escort me. Have a wonderful evening, you two!"

Mal watched as Fairy Godmother rushed out of the cathedral, oddly wishing she could do the same. Though, she didn't know why she felt like she couldn't, and that put her more on edge.

"Sorry about all this," Ben said as she returned to her side, "but I figured you'd appreciate the heads-up on what's gonna happen before the actual day."

That's for sure, she thought as she took his offered hand, walking down the dais, her feet sure despite how uneasy she felt.

"Tell me the truth, Ben," she said when he released her hand, his last exchange with Fairy Godmother still replaying in her mind.

"Of course," he said without hesitation.

Mal continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Just how many opposed you?" When he blinked at her, she clarified, "Something had to have happened. A decision that affects all of Auradon, and you just signed a little piece of paper and that was it? I don't buy it."

Understanding bloomed across Ben's face, and he gave a little nod, eyes downcast. "Understandable. I had something in my favor, actually. When I was chosen to be king, the council, as a sign of faith and goodwill, declared that my first decree did not need to go through them to be passed." He looked at her, kind eyes alight with something Mal couldn't quite place.

"You betrayed their trust," Mal said, staring at Ben, unable to process it.

Ben's expression hadn't changed; he showed no shame in his act. "I like to think I lived up to it."

"You didn't," she said, definitive, still reeling. "You risked the crown, your good-standing, all of this, for what? Four nobodies?" She hated the thought, but to Auradon, to those sovereigns, they were nobodies.

It didn't matter that some of them voted against the island. None of them came for them until Ben.

"You aren't nobodies," Ben said, just as definitive, the glint to those kind eyes of his still burning. "The island falls within Auradon's borders. I can show you the maps to prove it. The Crown should protect and care for its people, but for the last twenty years, it's failed."

"What if they don't deserve it," Mal asked, quieter than she meant.

Ben's brow creased. "You think you don't deserve it."

It was plain that he hadn't asked a question.

"They were there for a reason," Mal said instead of answering.

"Yes, your parents were, but there was no reason for you to be there."

"Yes, there was," Mal said, knowing that she only existed to fulfill whatever Maleficent had planned. But she couldn't tell Ben that. "There's always a reason."

"I didn't take you for someone of faith," Ben said, a half smile on his face as he looked up at one of the stained glass windows.

Mal snorted. "I'm not. I just know enough of the way of the universe."

"That can be the same as faith," he said, still sporting that half smile as he focused on her once more. "Trusting in something you can't see or prove."

"You're an idiot," Mal said, unable to hold her tone. The fact that they were still in the cathedral was starting to damage her calm.

The rehearsal was over, so why are we still here, she thought, retraining from fidgeting.

"Maybe," Ben said, unoffended because of course he wasn't, "because I won't back down from my own faith."

Mal rolled her eyes. "Whatever higher power you—"

"I meant in you," Ben said, interrupting her as he looked at her fully, as he stared into her eyes. "In you and the others. People left and right can tell me my decree was a mistake, but I wouldn't change it for anything."

"For anything," Mal echoed, temper flaring, and she stepped into his space, teeth bared as she brandished her knife, positioned precisely at the pulse point in his neck, just a fraction away from his skin. "What if I slit your throat right here?"

Standing incredibly still, Ben merely looked at her. "How long have you had that?"

That's his question, she thought, incredulous and angry. "I always have this on me. Now answer my question."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Question?"

She had to remind herself to breathe, blinking once to get the image of Carlos beneath her and bloodied out of her head.

How dare they both do this to her.

"You'd regret your stupid decree if I let you bleed out here and now," Mal said, impatience making her hand shake — only once.

Breathe, she told herself, grip tightening on the handle, and she told herself she would not draw blood again, that it was for show, that she was trying to make a fucking point.

"I think being dead would negate any regrets to be had," Ben began, much too casual for someone with a blade at their throat, "but I wouldn't. I might even deserve it."

Red filled her vision, and Mal only barely reined herself under control, but not enough to stop something like a growl from escaping her as she removed her knife and slapped Ben across the cheek, not letting herself be distracted by the blatant shock on Ben's face. "You fucking idiot."

She couldn't believe it — there was no way that someone could be so… infuriating! She had to distance herself, had to pace around Ben, else she might actually let her blade sink into his flesh.

Later, when she wasn't being stifled by the senseless self-sacrifice of an idiot, she would be disappointed in herself for once again letting her emotions control her, but Mal couldn't think on anything else in the moment; she didn't understand how Ben couldn't understand.

"Where's your self-preservation?" Mal practically snarled, keeping her distance from Ben even and absolute as she stalked around him, eying him as if he were the animal, a weird beast of burden too stupid to care for its own life. "If someone threatens your life with a blade, with anything, you defend yourself! I don't care who it is, Carlos, Evie, Jay — I don't care if it's your fucking father — you fight!"

Ben, with a hand over the skin she struck, followed her movement with his eyes only, expression blank. "Is that an order?" he asked, an odd edge to his tone, one Mal had never heard from him before.

The sting in her eyes told Mal they had turned emerald, that they burned bright, and she only just managed to rein in her anger, to rein in her urge to strike again. "It's common fucking sense."

Standing straighter as he lowered his hand, Ben nodded. "I'll remember that," he said, tone bland as if speaking in a lecture, as if the topic of conversation weren't something serious.

She couldn't even look at him right then. "See that you do," she said, a snarl just barely contained, and she walked away. Damn the rehearsal, damn any plans that were made.

For this moment, she needed to be alone, lest she do something she'd truly regret.

———

Ben stood in the cathedral, unsure of how much time had passed.

The only thing he was aware of was the burn in his cheek.

He had thought he was doing so well...

Though he'd noticed her increasing irritability, though he tried his best to placate her despite knowing he might mess up, Ben didn't think that Mal would actually strike him.

His father hadn't even done that.

I've gotta get out of here, he thought as he made his way to the front entrance, trying not to think too much, trying to rein in his breathing.

The open air engulfed him as he rushed past the doors, a relief so welcomed that he nearly stumbled down the first few steps. He paused, though, as his eyes found Jay resting against the bottom steps, practically sprawled out.

"Thank fuck," Jay said when he noticed Ben. "Was getting kinda worried someone was gonna try to bless me or some shit if I stayed here any longer." He got to his feet, giving Ben a grin as he climbed the steps to meet him.

Ben couldn't help but smile, his feet more steady as he closed the distance between them. "Why are you here? Besides tempting converters, of course."

Snorting, Jay said, "Mal told me to meet her here." His gaze flickered behind Ben, as if he expected her to be following behind.

"Ah," Ben said lamely. "She left several minutes ago." I think, he thought, realizing he had no idea. How long had he stood in the cathedral, dumbstruck?

Jay's attention snapped back to Ben, and he stared, expression unreadable. With measured movements, he reached up and gently traced his fingers along Ben's cheek, frowning when Ben couldn't hold in a wince.

Crap, Ben thought, wondering why his cheek still hurt.

Jay removed his hand, jaw flexing. He still stared without saying a word.

"Jay?" Ben prompted, unable to take the silence, to take Jay's gaze any longer.

"What happened?" Jay's tone was soft, at odds with the gleam to his eyes.

Don't do this, Ben thought, hoping to defuse anything before it became a situation. "I should've been paying more attention, is all."

His answer only made Jay frown. "You sure it wasn't because of someone," he said, tone turning serious.

"What if it were?" Ben asked on a sigh. "What are you going to do, Jay? Fight all my battles for me? Fight anyone who has a disagreement with me?" He watched as Jay's expression barely changed, and Ben was almost impressed with how unabashed Jay was in his thinking. "I'm flattered you care enough for my well-being to consider that, but that isn't the way to deal with it."

"And what is your way of dealing with it?" Jay asked, skeptical as his eyes traveled back to his cheek for a moment. Then, his eyes were piercing into Ben's. "Did someone do this?"

I'm sorry, Ben thought as he said, "I'm fine. I've had worse at tourney or from my horses." And that was the truth, at least.

Physically, he'd had worse.

Jay almost scoffed, unimpressed. "Those were accidents."

"So was this. I told you, I wasn't paying attention," Ben said, hoping the topic would change. He didn't feel like being the reason Jay and Mal had a tiff.

Jay remained quiet for a few seconds. "Is that why Mal left?"

"I always make Mal leave," Ben said with a shrug.

"C'mon," Jay said, abrupt with his words and his movement of linking his arm with Ben's, pulling him down the cathedral steps.

Ben blinked. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know," Jay said pleasantly. "Wanna grab a bite?"

Surprised, Ben asked, "What about Mal?"

"If she wanted to be in my company, she wouldn't have snuck off." His stride never faltered, pulling Ben closer as if it were so natural to do.

"There's a diner a few blocks down that way," he said, gesturing to their left. "Menu's very extensive."

"Then that's where we're going," Jay said, smiling brilliantly for him.

Ben marveled at it, at Jay's smile, at the way Jay kept him close, at how confidently Jay led him around. It was different from how Jay had been conscious of people looking their way during Family Day.

True, there weren't that many people out and about as there had been in the gardens, but the ones who were didn't glance at them too much anyway.

Not that it mattered, given how Ben felt right then. Cautiously, ready to move away if Jay reacted poorly, he leaned into Jay, letting Jay take the reins fully, and Ben's heart skipped a beat when Jay's hold on him tightened.

Relieved, Ben closed his eyes, trusting Jay to find the place, and he just enjoyed Jay's warmth, greedily basking.

—

"Something wrong?" Jay asked, pushing his now clean plate away.

"No one's really given me more than a passing glance," Ben said with a shrug, holding his drink with both hands.

Jay had told him to grab a table while he ordered, and ever since, Ben had noticed that no one looked up from their plates, even when Jay joined him with food, even when Jay made loud judgments on the meal as they ate, even when Jay made him laugh a little too hard. The diner was nowhere near full, but it had a sizeable patronage, despite being a little early for dinner. Still, no one took notice.

"It's weird, but nice," he added. Not that Ben was being conceited, it was just that, especially lately, he couldn't go anywhere without at least someone coming up to him.

"Oh, yeah, about that," Jay began, ducking his head in embarrassment. "I'm sort of shielding you?"

Ah, that's right, he thought, even as he asked, "With magic?" He always forgot Jay was capable of that little trick.

"Yeah." Jay cleared his throat. "Figured, you know, it'd be easier than dealing with your adoring fans." His words were teasing, but his expression...

Nervous was probably an understatement.

"Do you do this often?" Ben asked, genuinely curious. "Use your magic this way, I mean. Maybe to get out of test taking and whatnot?"

It occurred to Ben that he had no idea just how much power Jay was capable of displaying. If he recalled certain conversations correctly, it seemed Jay himself didn't want to know.

Jay snorted. "Nah. I don't mind the class work or whatever. It actually keeps me occupied from other things, so it's been fine adjusting to it."

Ben blinked. "You... weren't used to doing schoolwork?"

"It didn't really matter on the island. Not that it matters that much here, but here it isn't so... pointless, I guess." Despite his words, Jay wore a little smile on his lips as he idly turned a ring on his pinky finger.

Ben sat in silence, taking in Jay before he caught himself staring.

Or, more accurately, before Jay caught him staring.

"What?" Jay asked, unoffended.

"It's nothing, really." At Jay's raised eyebrow, Ben continued. "I just, you know, I just never know what I should say, regarding the island. If I should even say anything."

Understanding blooming on his features, Jay nodded. "Erring on the side of caution is probably safer. With some of us."

"I figured. But I hope you know I'm always here for you, if you ever want to talk."

There was a glint to Jay's eyes, and for the first time, Ben felt a dangerous air surrounding Jay.

He swallowed, unsure of what he said to cause such a reaction. "Just be aware that I'll probably stick my foot in my mouth at some point," he said, trying to offer Jay a smile.

Jay huffed, that strange air about him dissipating as the corners of his mouth turned upward in the makings of a smile. He leaned in, eyebrows waggling. "Are you flexible enough to actually do that?"

Ben raised his eyebrow. "What if I said yes?"

Jay whistled. "I think I better stop this line of thinking before I get myself in trouble," he said, leaning back to stretch.

"Thank you, for this I mean." Ben gestured from the table to the whole of the diner. "It's rare I get to take a breather without the fanfare."

"Yeah, that's gotta suck," Jay drawled out, propping his chin on his hand as he leaned against the table.

"It's even rarer that someone takes me out on a date." Ben smiled, could feel his cheek warming despite how innocuous the words were.

Jay smiled. "I'm only doing it to make Evie jealous."

That startled a laugh out of Ben. "That isn't nice."

"She'll get me back, it's okay." Jay's smile turned into a full blown grin.

Ben chuckled, but his thoughts turned pensive without his permission. "And are you sure this is?" he asked, gesturing between the two of them, already bracing himself for the atmosphere to turn sour. "I don't want you to... I don't know, get in trouble?"

Brow creasing, Jay asked, "With who?"

"Mal." The last thing Ben wanted was for Mal to get upset with Jay, especially if it were on his account.

Jay stared at him for a few moments, neither blinking or straightening in his seat. When he finally spoke, his words were as even as his tone. "She doesn't own me, you know."

"No, I know that," Ben said, forcing himself to keep eye contact. "But it doesn't take a smart person to see that you, Evie, and Carlos defer to her."

Sometimes, Ben wished his brain would just let things go, but given that Mal had lashed out at him earlier, he really didn't want to rock the boat between them any more than he already had.

Sighing, Jay leaned back against his chair, running a hand through his hair, making it more wild. "She did a lot for us, on the island." He huffed. "Plus, she's just used to getting her way."

"I see," Ben said, even though that wasn't really an answer.

"Do you?" Jay stared at him, expression not quite impassive but still hard to read.

"Nope," he answered honestly. He doubted he'd really see the whole picture, but he trusted Jay. If Jay weren't worried about it, then Ben would trust that he knew best.

Jay snorted. "At least you're honest."

Huffing a little, Ben gave a half-hearted shrug. "I always try to be honest. Mostly because I'm a terrible liar."

"How are you, Ben?"

Taken aback by the abrupt shift, both in topic and in tone, Ben could only utter a flat, "What."

Jay shrugged. "How are you? Family Day got a little outta hand, and then I find you alone after your coronation rehearsal." That dangerous glint returned to his eyes as he studied Ben.

"Family Day didn't get out of hand for me," Ben said, incredulous. "Chad had no right to attack the four of you."

Jay blinked. "I meant with Mal, with her line of questioning."

"That's what you're concerned about?" Ben sighed. "Questions are nothing compared to getting verbally attacked in front of a crowd of strangers."

"You know," Jay began, words almost at a drawl, his nonchalant tone at odds with the gleam in his eyes, "one could say that you were verbally attacked in front of friends. Is that better or worse."

Jay clearly didn't want an actual answer for his non-question; his gaze already told Ben his opinion on the matter.

"Jay..." Jay's name left Ben's mouth automatically, but he realized he didn't know how to rein in their conversation, didn't know what to say that would ease Jay's concerns. "Mal's questions might have bothered me, but they weren't an attack."

"That explains your reaction," Jay said, deadpan.

Flushing in embarrassment at the memory of his frustration, Ben said, "I was cranky because I hate those kinds of gatherings."

"Why did she hit you?" Jay asked again, gentler this time, but that same dangerous glint still danced in his eyes.

"It's fine, Jay," Ben said, knowing that Jay wouldn't accept it, but hoping he would all the same. After all, how could he say the actual reason without revealing that he'd been lying about the love spell?

Jay's jaw flexed. "Thought you said you wouldn't lie to me?"

"And I'm trying not to," Ben said, unable to keep the plea out of his voice, both ashamed and not. "Just please let it go."

They sat in silence for a few long moments, Ben staring at Jay staring at him. Jay's gaze was unflinching as he turned the ring on his pinky finger.

"Let's bounce," he said, abrupt as his motion of getting to his feet, looking at Ben expectantly. "Been here too long anyway."

"Of course," Ben said, moving when Jay gestured toward the exit.

Is he really going to drop it, he thought as he held the door open for Jay, watching him saunter out of the diner as if he visited all the time.

It didn't seem off, the way Jay walked slightly ahead of him, at least, not to Ben. Still, Ben couldn't help but feel like he should be holding his breath, that he should be waiting for something to happen. So much had happened in the last few days, after all, and given everything that had occurred over the weekend, especially, Ben just knew something was about to give way.

If only he could properly prepare for it.

So lost in his thought, Ben hadn't realized that Jay had slowed until they were walking side by side. In fact, he only realized it when Jay grabbed his arm.

Jay pulled him into an alley, pulled him close as Jay leaned against the brick wall of a building, pulled him just enough that Ben lost his footing a little, his hands bracing himself on either side of Jay's head.

Ben blinked at Jay.

Jay's hands rested on Ben's hips, almost kneading.

Ben raised an eyebrow.

"What if I asked you to mess me up?" Jay asked, looking at Ben through his lashes.

"I'd ask you to define mess up," Ben said, wondering at Jay's behavior; he'd been so preoccupied worrying over whether something would happen or not that he missed whatever caused Jay to act like this.

His words made Jay grin. "What do you think it means?"

"I'm honestly unsure," Ben answered, regarding him curiously, "but it feels like a challenge."

"Maybe it is," Jay practically purred out. "Would you kiss me if I asked?"

"Of course," Ben said, too curious to be embarrassed by how immediate his answer was. "Do you want me to kiss you?"

Grin turning sly, Jay didn't answer. Instead, he brought his hands up, running them over Ben's chest, resting them on his shoulders. "What if I want you to do more?"

"Like mess you up," Ben said, the words feeling odd on his tongue.

"Exactly," Jay breathed out, and he leaned in to kiss Ben's neck. "You can do whatever you want, and I'll take it." He lifted his leg, hooking it over Ben's hip, pulling Ben even closer to him. "I'll enjoy taking it," he whispered into Ben's ear, nipping his earlobe.

"Stop," Ben said, waiting for Jay to do as he requested, waiting until Jay leaned back so they were once again face to face. "That's very forward."

"That's what I am," Jay said with a sultry grin that didn't reach his eyes. "So why don't you—"

"You're not going to scare me away, Jay," Ben said, realization dawning, and he knew he was correct in his assessment when Jay froze, knew that was the only reason Jay, who had previously been so concerned about forcing Ben into anything he didn't want, would be acting this way.

Jay stared at him. "What."

"You're not going to scare me away," Ben said again, heart breaking at how Jay's facade crumbled at his words. "I'm here." He leaned in, slow, deliberate, and placed a kiss to Jay's forehead. "I'll always be here."

Jay shivered, his hands gripping Ben's shoulders tighter. "You don't know what you're saying,"

"I know enough that I stopped you." Ben placed his hand on Jay's cheek, his thumb lightly brushing against the skin. "I know enough to know I don't want to lose you."

"You do know," came a voice from the alley's entrance, startling them both enough that they bumped foreheads, "that people can see the both of you being naughty, correct?"

"Luckily it's just you then," Jay said, not bothering to move away; he did lower his leg, though.

Evie walked to them with a frown on her face. "What kind of attitude is that?"

"It's just a bit of fun," Jay said, trying for a grin.

Yet another fun conversation ahead, huh, Ben thought, refraining from sighing. "If by fun he means trying to frighten me away, sure, it was fun."

"Jay!" Evie exclaimed, aghast. "How could you test him like that?"

Cussing under his breath, Jay moved from the wall, moved away from Ben and Evie both. "I had a moment of weakness, okay, what else is new."

Evie's features softened, but her frown still remained. "Jay—"

"You are not weak," Ben said, something fierce churning in his gut.

"Ben's right," Evie said, brow still creased as she studied Jay. "You were making progress, too, so what's happened?"

"Mal hit him," Jay without preamble.

"Jay," Ben sighed out. He felt a migraine coming on.

"Ben," Evie said, expression crumbling, concerning dripping off of her tongue. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Ben said, perhaps a bit harsher than he wanted. "This is ridiculous. Can you both please trust me when I talk about my own feelings?"

"No," Evie said, unashamed. "We already had that discussion. You don't have a good track record on assessing your own feelings."

"And you do?" he asked, semi-regretting it when the question caused her to flinch. "Look, I'm sorry, but you've known me not even two months. Seems a little presumptuous to claim you know me better than I know myself."

Jay glanced between them before settling his gaze on Ben. "Do you know us?"

"Honestly, no." He nearly laughed when they both blinked at him, the whole thing absurd to him. "I believe we're getting to know each other, but..." He took a small breath; he didn't want to offend them, but he didn't want to lie either. "It's too soon to say that I know what's going on in your heads, and I would never presume to claim to know what's best for you."

That's the last thing they need, yet another person telling them what to do.

Evie bit her bottom lip before smoothing her features blank. "Do you want to cut ties with all of us?"

"For the love of..." Ben muttered, telling himself it wasn't their fault for thinking like that, telling himself he had no right to get frustrated yet again. "People get into disagreements. It's natural. It's part of learning. You don't cut ties just because someone doesn't one hundred percent agree with you."

"Oh," Jay began, eyebrow raised, "so you disagreed with—"

"Yes," Ben said as emphatically as he could while still keeping his tone light. "Whoever you name, yes. Audrey, Jane, Lonnie, Doug, Chad, my mother, everyone. I've had disagreements and small fights with everyone! We're all human." Unable to help it, he brought a hand to his head, rubbing his temple. "Frankly, this end all, be all thing you seem to think is the norm is exhausting."

"So, what," Jay said, his own hands running through his hair, gaze shifting from Ben to Evie and back to Ben, "you've been keeping all this in while telling us your so-called truths?"

"I haven't lied to you," Ben said slowly, trying not to bite the words out. "I've been going at this at your pace, at your own comfort level, which, granted, maybe wasn't my brightest idea, considering every time I voice a boundary, it's taken as if I'm declaring war." He winced; he could have chosen better words, but he was quickly losing the brain power to navigate the situation. "I didn't think pre-coronation jitters would affect us all so much, and yet here we are."

Maybe pretending to be under the love spell was the wrong course of action, but if he were honest with himself, Ben thought that they would have addressed that issue with him before anything had escalated. And yet, they were now approaching a month, approaching the coronation, and not a word about it was spoken.

Maybe Jane was right, he thought, maybe I'm the one who needs to bring it up and lay it all open.

He was a coward, but continuing like this any longer couldn't be good for any of them.

Even now, Evie and Jay looked as if he told them their days were numbered.

"I mean, c'mon guys," he said, hoping he could get through to them, or at least remove that expression off of their faces, "are you telling me either one of you never disagreed with Mal or Carlos before?"

He had evidently chosen the correct question because their expressions softened, and they looked at each other, equal parts fondness and sheepishness on their features.

"Well," Jay said on a sigh, though the beginnings of a smile crept onto his lips, "you got us there."

"Got you there, you mean," Evie said, wearing a teasing smile of her own.

Jay huffed, rolling his eyes. "I'm not a kiss-ass like you."

"Excuse me," Evie said, hands on her hips.

"Okay, okay," Ben said, amused despite everything, "but I think you get my point now, yeah?" Relief washed over him when they nodded. Thank goodness. "Awesome. Now can we please just head back to the dorms before exhaustion creeps in any further?"

Nodding again, Jay said, "Yeah, sure, but first."

Jay pulled him into a hug, and before Ben could properly react, Evie had her arms around them both. They hugged him tight, as if they were forming a protective shield around him, their heads on his shoulders.

For a moment, they stood there, silent in their embrace, and Ben closed his eyes, taking in their warmth, their steady heartbeats putting his mind at ease. As much as he could, he reached up to grab their arms, giving them a light squeeze before just holding on. He felt the both of them shudder.

"I'm sorry," Jay said softly.

"Me, too," Evie murmured.

"Me three," Ben said, relaxed in their arms. He gave them a gentle pat. "I guess we all still trip each other up, huh?"

"I guess we like you too much," Evie said as she let them go.

Jay followed suit immediately after. "Yeah, sucks to be you," he said, tone light, but there was still a pinch to his eyes.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far." Ben took hold of their hands, bringing them to his lips, delivering a kiss to their knuckles. "We just need to talk to each other more, is all. And get the coronation out the way, apparently."

"Speaking of," Evie said, brightly if abruptly as she turned to Jay, wagging her finger at him. "Jay, to make up for trying to test Ben, accompany me while I shop for more materials."

Jay scrunched up his nose. "What, why? And if I have to make up to anyone, it's to Ben, not you."

"You need to do something you don't like doing, so you'll be accompanying me." She quirked an eyebrow in challenge.

Oh dear, Ben thought as Jay pouted. "He doesn't have—"

"I was going to make him anyway," Evie said, waving away the issue. "Since he treats it like a punishment, might as well as use that, right?" She winked.

Jay snorted. "Whatever you say, princess." Though he grumbled, his expression softened as Evie beamed.

Ben couldn't help but smile. "Well, I guess that's okay, then." He quirked an eyebrow. "As long as Evie doesn't take any special enjoyment in making this a punishment."

"Don't give her ideas, Ben!" Jay warned as Evie giggled.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Ben," she practically purred, leaning in to kiss Ben's cheek. "Besides, we want him in tiptop shape to wear the outfit I've created for your coronation. I wouldn't deprive you of that."

"Thank heavens for that," Ben said, glancing at Jay, who had opened his mouth to respond to Evie's words.

Now, though, he blinked at Ben, as if stunned.

"I'm sure you'll be lovely, regardless," Ben said, giving him a smile before turning to Evie. "I have the utmost faith in you, Evie. I hope that goes without saying."

The smile she gave him could outdo the full moon. "Thank you, Ben. Now I think you should head back before I lose my restraint and kidnap you along for the trip."

"Very well," he said, opening his arms, hoping they'd indulge him before he left. To his delight, there was no hesitation in their movement; they entered his embrace readily. "I'm really looking forward to future conversations."

"Because you're weird," Jay said, walking them to the entrance of the alleyway.

"As if we aren't just as weird," Evie said with a laugh, and she pulled them all apart. "Okay, for real, go before I steal you." She gently nudged Ben in the direction of the school.

"Have fun, you two!" he called, waving as he began the trek back.

"Gee, thanks," Jay said over Evie's laughter.

Smiling, Ben breathed a sigh of relief. The evening hadn't been a total loss.

———

Despite having magic in her veins, Evie preferred to do her craftwork by hand, slow and steady. It calmed her, seeing everything laid out across the table, seeing it all come together, gave her a sense of pride that she was able to construct something without any outside help.

Still, she had been tempted. Given that it was Tuesday afternoon, and given that she couldn't do much during classes, their outfits for the coronation weren't done yet, and that wasn't even going into the fact that things seemed to be unraveling around them since the weekend, since they talked to their parents.

Family Day had cut them all new scars while opening old ones; Carlos had become more withdrawn, almost as if he were keeping something hidden; Mal had been highly volatile, taking less to set her off and taking more to reel her back in; and Jay... Jay had been pushing himself more into the protector role while also trying to distance himself from them.

Evie didn't know how to help any of them; she hadn't felt this uncertain around them since that first week after they had all met.

She looked up from her work, taking in how Mal lounged on her bed, preoccupied with her mother's spell book and her sketchbook, taking in how Jay sat on her own bed with his schoolwork before him, taking in how Carlos worked on the floor at the foot of her bed.

Evie feared they were going to lose themselves before the coronation even arrived.

"Evie," Mal said, tone quiet as she leafed through the spell book.

For a reason she couldn't name, Evie had to swallow before speaking, that blank expression and Mal's tone pulling uneasiness into her stomach. "Yes, Mal?"

Mal's fingers paused, holding a page between them, and her eyes slowly turned to Evie. "Is there a way to break the love spell without the antidote?"

The question shifted the atmosphere of the whole room, and Evie blinked, saw through her peripheral Carlos and Jay stop what they were doing to listen. "You want to break the spell?" she asked instead of answering.

"That is why I asked," Mal said, monotone and deadpan, and yet her words somehow cut deeper than they would have if she had snarled them, if she had hurled them at Evie with all the venom and malice within her.

"Mal..." Jay said, tentative with both his words and his movement as he stood.

Jaw flexing, Mal kept her eyes on Evie. "Is there a way or not?"

"I'm... I'm not sure," Evie said, near whispering in her uncertainty. She had never bothered to ponder it, if she were honest; she had kept herself in her little fantasy, that things would go their way during the coronation, that they could keep each other and Ben safe from their parents.

She didn't want to think on the outcome should they fail to kill their parents. She didn't want to think about being so alone again, alienated from the warmth and caring those she claimed provided, no longer able to feel the flutter in her stomach Ben roused, left so cold and yearning in her mother's clutches.

"Look for a way," Mal said as she closed her book. "Make one up, if you have to."

The look she sent Evie's way chilled her.

"Mal, that's a lot of pressure on her," Jay said, moving by Evie, ever defensive, protective.

Mal and Jay butted heads too much recently, and Evie wasn't too thrilled that they were about to throw down again because of her.

"Time is running out," Mal said, unfazed, tracing the dragon seal on the spell book's cover. "The coronation is Thursday."

"You don't have to remind us," Jay said, frowning. "What's with you?" His hands balled into fists at his sides, causing Evie alarm.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Carlos was now standing.

"Spare me the confrontation, Jay," Mal said as she tossed the book aside before pushing off of her bed. "I'm not in the mood." She moved to the bay window.

Evie refrained from gaping, and she reached for Jay on reflex, a firm hold on his arm, holding him back when he tried to take a step forward.

"You serious right now?" Jay asked, incredulous. "You can't ask Evie to whip up some spell in less than a day."

Mal's gaze, intense as ever, settled on Jay. "Because you know all about magic." Her words were biting, a hint of a sneer on her lips.

"Mal!" Evie gasped out, horrified as she felt Jay flinch, her eyes wide as she glanced at Carlos' frozen form. This is getting out of hand, she thought, panic welling up in her throat. "Why is this so important?"

Evie didn't understand the urgency. With Ben under the spell, they could protect him even if they failed against their parents. Mal could give the order to hide, to stay out of the limelight if they didn't contact him after a certain timeframe.

They could even make the case, should things go south, to spare Ben as a war trophy, that it would be a great insult to Adam to have his only son prisoner to Maleficent's co-called worthless daughter and her miserable henchmen.

Why would Mal want to break the only thing that could possibly save Ben?

Scowling, Mal moved, quick and wild as she stood in front of Jay and Evie. "It's for your sakes, you fools!" Her hands twitched, and Evie knew she wanted to grab them, grab the front of their shirts, but Mal instead flexed her hands, keeping them at her sides.

"Our sake?" Evie echoed, bewildered.

Mal took a step back, almost as if she were incredulous Evie hadn't put it together. "Have you forgotten Maleficent's words? She planned this somehow. She wants the wand, and she wants revenge. You think she'll allow Ben to live?"

"Ben's yours..." Jay said, voice trailing in his uncertainty. "You could order—"

"Him being marked as mine is exactly the point," Mal said, blunt in her frustration. "What makes you think she'll let that slide?" She looked at them all, eyes fierce, hands flexing. "And what would you prefer, Ben dying by doing something foolhardy in an attempt to save us because some spell is forcing him? Or Ben dying as himself based on how he chooses?"

Jay flinched. "He doesn't have to die..." His words were too quiet, too uncertain.

It broke Evie's heart.

"If he stays under the spell, he will," Mal said, quiet now too, speaking softer than she had previously. "If he's himself, there's a chance he won't."

"You're wrong," Carlos said, the firmness of his words surprising Evie. "It's the same. Ben would fight for us, spell or no spell."

"He put himself between us and his father, and his friends," Evie said, remembering Ben's mirror memory, remembering Halloween, and though it was only vaguely, she also remembered his tone during the Family Day mess.

Mal stared at them. "Even if we've used him for an entire month?"

Jay flinched again, and Evie grabbed his hand, squeezing it to give him strength, to distract her own unease. "We didn't use him," she said, trying to sooth Jay despite the fact that she didn't believe her own words.

"We did," Mal said, unwavering. "We took his mind. We took his comforts and used them for ourselves."

"Mal," Carlos began, tenser than Evie had ever seen him.

"This isn't about Ben!" Mal snapped. "This has always been about us. I came to this nightmare of a school because of you! I vowed to kill my mother because of you!" She took a step forward but physically stopped herself from moving further, eyes narrowing. "If you think I will let some pretty boy distract any of us from our task, you are sorely mistaken."

Evie stared at Mal, her heart racing at the thought of sweet Ben in their parents' clutches, and the fear that gripped her was nearly enough to doubt the conviction of the vow they made each other. Trying to come up with a solution that would have them all fine and well only fueled her fear.

Is this what Mal's been going through, Evie thought as she met Mal's gaze.

"If you want me to back down, just say the word," Mal continued, locking eyes with each of them. "Because if I fight and if I fail, Maleficent will torture everyone I've ever spoken to." Her face crumbled, only for a moment, but it was impossible to miss. "Death will not come for you after I'm gone."

Ben was a distraction, and if he were going to live past Thursday, if they were going to live past the coronation, they needed to admit that.

"I'll break the spell," Evie said quietly, once again squeezing Jay's hand when he began to protest. "I'll find a way."

"Okay," Mal said, and the tension in her shoulders lessened. She sighed. "Now, let's go over shit for Thursday."

"You mean we actually have a concrete plan this time?" Jay muttered.

"Stow it," she said as she spread out pieces of paper from her sketchbook, arranging them a certain way in the center of the table. "I'm not in the mood."

They all moved, surrounding the table, keeping equal distance from each other, the conversation still weighing heavy.

"It's a big ass cathedral," Mal began, annoyance tinging her tone, "and the dais where the blessing will take place is toward the back. It's a long way from an exit, and I imagine the crowd of people won't help matters."

"What about a magical assist?" Carlos asked, gaze traveling from Jay to Evie and settling on Mal.

"I've never tried teleporting," Jay said, frowning. "And I doubt things will be cool enough that me hiding us will be enough."

"We could put everyone to sleep," Evie said, trying not to wince at the prospect. That would be a big spell, and it would have to be done just right to ensure everyone woke up again.

Carlos made a face. "That seems risky..."

Evie nodded, a sigh escaping her lips. "It would be. And we would have to wait until after the wand is out of Fairy Godmother's hands." She winced. "Then there's Audrey..."

Jay groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She can't be spelled by anything?" he asked.

"I have no idea," Evie said, biting her lip. "I don't know how strong Merryweather's spell is."

"Intent is key, isn't it," Mal said, eyes faraway as she stared at her drawings. "If you believe hard enough, it might affect her."

"Is that a chance we wanna take?" Carlos asked, brow furrowed. "And we don't know who else might be able to resist enchantments and crap."

"Where will we be?" Jay asked, leaning over to get a closer look at the papers.

"Here," Mal said as she pointed to a place in the crowd, on the cathedral floor and a few yards away from the dais. "You'll be with the rest of the rabble, apparently, because all of the royalty who matters will be in the balconies."

"That's fairly typical," Evie murmured, but for once she was not upset that she was excluded from her birthright. Being on the floor would make everything easier. She sighed. "I haven't found anything about how magic would work inside the barrier. Carlos?"

With all eyes on him, Carlos pressed his lips into a thin line. "I only found discussions, hypotheticals at best. Seems like the consensus is that the type of magic would make the difference."

"So a benign remote control or a good-natured wand would be unaffected?" Evie guessed. It was something she had figured when she first thought about the remote, and it was as good a theory as anything.

Still, was it something that they could afford to test? Especially on the day of enacting their plan?

The silence grew too loud for too long a second.

"What if we don't bring the wand inside the barrier?" Mal asked, gaze on her sketches.

"So we use it to break in?" Jay asked, skeptical.

"No," Mal said slowly, "we bring Maleficent out instead."

Evie stared, her heart stopping even as her stomach churned.

"What," Carlos said, tone flat but eyes wide.

"I bring her out and kill her the moment she can be killed," Mal said, looking at them now.

"No," Jay said, immediate, definitive.

Mal sighed. "Jay—"

"No," he said again, more adamant, "I'll bring her."

Evie gasped. "Jay..."

Shaking his head, Jay spoke, his eyes remaining on Mal. "You need to be ready, ready for the exact moment she crosses over. I'll bring her to you."

"Jay," Mal said, but no other words left her as she searched Jay's face, eyes gleaming.

"You can do it," Carlos said, quiet but firm. "You'd have the element of surprise, and you'd have the wand. That can give you the boost you need to get the drop on her."

Mal blinked at them before settling her gaze on Evie.

"You can do it, Mal," Evie said, her nerves buzzing but not deterring her from her belief. Because she did believe; she believed in them all. "And we'll be with you." She glanced at them all, hoping that they understood her conviction, that they believed in her as much as she believed in them. "We'll be there to help you kill her, and then we'll take care of our parents."

A shuddering breath escaped Mal, but she still stared at them all, unashamed. "Okay. Jay, Carlos, do what needs to be done to get access to that remote and transportation. Evie, we need a diversion for our exit strategy." She blinked. "Never mind, I'll do that, just focus on breaking the spell."

"I can do both," Evie said, determined. Anything she could do to help them, to help Ben, she was willing.

A ghost of a smile crossed Mal's lips. "What is it with you and Carlos and being overachievers."

Jay snorted. "Don't think we really wanna get into that."

A smirk fully formed on Mal's lips as Carlos rolled his eyes, and Evie could feel the tension in the air trickle away.

"Regardless," Evie said, heart lighter, "we're all more capable than we think."

Jay stared at her before nodding, expression softening. He glanced at Carlos, at Mal, nodding again before returning to Evie's bed, sitting down with a sigh.

Carlos glanced at Evie then shared a look with Mal, one that lasted perhaps a second too long before he turned to his spot on the floor.

More hidden things, Evie thought as Mal's gaze settled once more on her sketches, lost in them.

It doesn't matter, Evie thought, pushing it to the back of her mind, and she returned to her workstation. She had some finishing touches to complete, and then.

And then her real task began.

She would break the spell. She would concoct what they needed to escape the cathedral.

She would not fail the ones who claimed her.

———

With everything going on tomorrow, Jay couldn't be more grateful to Evie.

Specifically because she was currently straddling his lap, kissing him too sweetly in her triumph.

She had linked their arms once he walked out of his last class that day and had led him to her room, demanding in that polite way of hers that he help her conceal her magic for the antidote.

He could never refuse her, which meant that he watched in awe as Evie transformed the energy in the room as she mixed a potion into a small vial, and he only remembered he had a job to do when she nodded at him.

And for his small effort, she had backed him to her bed and climbed into his lap, rewarding him with soft kisses that made his toes curl.

There would never be a moment where he wouldn't marvel at Evie, at her power, at her resourcefulness, at her confidence.

She was everything he would never be.

Breaking their kiss, Evie rested her forehead against his. "Jay," she sighed out as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Get rid of our clothes, please?"

He noticed that she tended to ask certain things of him — innocuous and mundane things that could easily be done physically with very little effort, but she'd ask them of him through magical means.

He suspected that she was trying to get him to be more confident with his power, to get him used to using it how he wished, to show him that his misgivings were baseless.

In a way, he was grateful for her method, for her faith, for her instruction, despite how little changed in his doubts.

Not that it mattered. He could never refuse her.

Closing his eyes, he took a slow breath in through his nose, held it for a second. He opened his eyes as he released his breath, and he glanced down at Evie's now naked body.

She smiled, glancing at his as well, and she kissed his cheek. "Well done, sweetling."

Warmth spread through him, and it took him biting his bottom lip to keep from whining.

Evie kissed him again, her hands framing his face as she gently rubbed her hips against his. "Wanna feel good?" she murmured against his lips, one of her hands trailing down his body, her nails lightly scraping against his skin.

Shivering, Jay nodded, and he moaned when she caressed his cock, coaxing him to full arousal.

A playful smile on her lips, Evie lifted her hips, positioning herself above him.

"Hey, wait—" Jay groaned, his hands grabbing her hips as she sank onto him, taking him in fully.

Sighing out, Evie leaned in for another kiss. "You feel wonderful," she said as she kissed along his jaw, kneading the back of Jay's neck. She began rocking against him.

"Wait," he gasped out, squeezing her hips in attempt to get her to still. "When did you ready yourself?"

She smiled, equal parts sweet and mischievous. "The delights of magic."

Unable to help himself, he huffed in amusement. "Never do pull your punches, huh?" With his mind now at ease, he began caressing her in earnest as he kissed the pulse point at her neck.

"I never have to, not with you," Evie said through a shuddering sigh. "You take me for what I am."

"You're everything," Jay said, pulling back enough so that they could look in each other's eyes. He placed his hand on her cheek, and he knew he couldn't keep his sincerity, his awe, out of his tone or features. "Evie, no one comes close to you."

The smile she rewarded him with could vanquish all the demons plaguing him.

"You always say the right things," Evie whispered, nuzzling into his hand before kissing his palm. She gazed at him with half-lidded eyes, biting her bottom lip, and she moved her hips again.

No, I don't, he thought, breath caught in his throat, pinned to the spot by her eyes, by her movement.

She had always had complete control over him, ever since their first time together, and yet, that control was only ever used to bring him pleasure, to make sure he was taken care of first and foremost.

She never did let herself worry about her own pleasure.

Jay didn't think it was fair then, and he didn't think it fair now.

And so he kissed her, hoping she'd let him take the lead for once, and he held her close as he concentrated.

The air around them changed, energies shifting as he did his best to be gentle with his magic.

Her little hum of surprise, her little shiver of pleasure, told Jay he accomplished his goal, and he pulled back admiring the way she was now under him, her hair splayed out on her pillow.

"That was some move, sweetling," Evie breathed out, her eyes gleaming, delight plain on her face.

His stomach fluttered as he tried his best to suppress a shiver inching its way up his spine. "I'm not done yet," he said as he braced himself above her. "Wanna treat you right." He leaned down to kiss her neck.

A quiet little moan escaped her as she closed her eyes, arching into him. "You always do."

"Practice makes perfect, or some shit like that." He began moving his hips at a relaxed pace, more focused on covering Evie in kisses.

Evie laughed, just a quiet little huff of air, and her hands grasped at his shoulders. "No need to be so diligent, good sir. I don't need—"

"Nope," he said simply, cutting off her words with a lingering kiss, and he was pleased to find her melting against him. When they broke apart, he said again, "I want to treat you right."

Without waiting for her response, he sat upright, pulling her close against him, letting her legs drape over his hips. His movements were still relaxed, and he marveled at how she lay before him, at how she watched him, curiosity plain on her features even as her eyes darkened with desire.

Fuck, she was beautiful.

Jay moved his hands, let them caress their way over Evie's body, massaging her breasts, running his nails gently down her torso, squeezing her hips in time with his thrusts, before he finally settled one of his hands over her cunt, his thumb teasing her clit.

His touch affected Evie immediately, her body jerking.

"Jay," Evie said on a moan, "Jay, what are you—"

"Treating you right," Jay said, fondness in his voice as he watched her arch off of the bed, his thumb rubbing a fraction harder, faster. "Let me take care of you, Evie."

Evie shuddered, a whine in her throat, her hands grabbing the pillow as she writhed from his hands, his hips.

He loved seeing her like this, loved seeing her let loose and not have a care in the world about what she looked like. He wanted to give that to her whenever he could, he wanted her to have that freedom every minute of every day.

And yet, some part of him, the part that was probably as wicked as everyone thought him to be, wanted to keep this side of Evie to himself.

Enough about you, he thought to himself, nearly scolding, and he once again focused entirely on Evie, on making sure she found the pleasure she deserved.

The hand that wasn't focused on Evie's clit spread her thighs wide, allowing him to enter her deeper, but he made sure to keep his pace steady, made sure each snap of his hips had his cock grinding against that certain spot that drove Evie crazy.

Evie groaned. "Jay! Jay, fuck, I'm-I'm, ah—" She gasped, her panting so wanton, and she threw her head back, mouth open in a silent cry as she came, her body tensing.

Jay paused, keeping his hips still, and watched as her release overtook her, in awe of how her body reacted.

She really was so beautiful.

Shivering, Evie blinked up at him, a lazy smile gracing her lips even as she trembled every now and then.

Jay felt his heartbeat stutter.

He leaned over her, delivering a lingering kiss. "You okay?"

"Fantastic," she sighed out. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him back in for another kiss. "You're amazing."

Smiling, he said, "I'm not done yet, my princess."

Surprise colored Evie's face as Jay began moving again, her mouth falling opening in a little o as if she had forgotten he was still inside her.

"I told you," Jay murmured as he brought her legs around his waist, as he adjusted her so that she would be more comfortable as he drove into her. "I want to treat you right." He moved, sinking into her deeper but slower.

Evie moaned, her grip on his neck tightening before she moved her hands, running them down his chest. "Jay."

He braced himself with his forearms on either side of Evie's head, framing her as he leaned down to kiss her, his hands smoothing back Evie's hair. "I want you to feel good," he said, breathier than he wanted, but he was beginning to lose his cool.

That was Evie's magic.

"I do," Evie moaned out, and she hooked her ankles together, keeping Jay close, trying to pull him into her even more. "God, Jay, I feel so good." Her arms wrapped around his back before she moved her hands to his shoulders, holding him close.

Their closeness, the way she tried to meld with him, sparked a fire within his belly, and he kissed her again, kept kissing her, lost in the way her lips felt against his, in the way her hands squeezed his shoulders in time with his thrusts, in the way she clenched around him.

He could stay like this, connected with her, forever.

Evie's moans couldn't be contained by their kisses, and when they finally broke apart, her moans escaped her, sounding so sweet, so enticing that Jay couldn't keep himself from joining her, unashamed with how he sounded.

He rested his forehead against hers, sharing the same breath as her as they both groaned when he shifted them slightly, the new angle delicious for the both of them as Jay moved one hand back to her clit, teasing her anew.

"Jay, I can't, I'm gonna, fuck—" Evie groaned, raking her nails down Jay's back as her hips jerked, trying to get more of his touch, trying to drive him in deeper.

Fuck, she was gorgeous.

"That's it, Evie," Jay moaned out, mesmerized by how unabashed she was in her pleasure, and it was heady that he was responsible for it. "Fuck, come for me again."

Shuddering, Evie cried out, both her legs and arms tightening around Jay as she pulled him even closer, her whole body trembling.

It dizzied Jay enough that his movements faltered, no longer rolling his hips at a controlled pace. "Fuck, you feel amazing, don't think I can last, Evie, you—"

She managed to pull him in for another kiss despite how she shivered still. "Inside me, Jay," she gasped out, a whine at the back of her throat as she tried to push him further into her with her legs. "Please, come inside!"

"Fuck," Jay cussed, the word swallowed by another kiss as Evie claimed his mouth once more, and being so thoroughly held by her, Jay obeyed her, releasing inside, his mind growing hazy at the intensity of it all.

He might have passed out. Just for a little bit. He couldn't be sure. He couldn't be bothered.

Evie sighed underneath him, still holding him close. "That was amazing," she murmured, kissing his shoulder.

The affection made Jay smile, and he found the strength to kiss her forehead. "Anything for you, my princess." He moved, the both of them shivering, so he wouldn't be smothering her, but Evie's hold on him tightened. He quirked his eyebrow.

Smiling, Evie kissed his chin. "I like you on top of me," she said, her hands playing with his hair.

Unable to deny her anything, Jay settled back down so that he could rest his head on her chest, taking in her warmth and listening to her heartbeat. He let out a deep sigh, content to just lie there with her. "We don't do this often," he said, more absentminded than anything.

"Not as much as I'd like," Evie agreed, but her tone was light, her hand moving leisurely through his hair, almost lulling him to sleep.

A silence settled over them, and Jay let everything that wasn't Evie's hand and her heartbeat melt away.

"Do you..." Evie began, quiet in the silence of the room. "Do you imagine being with Ben like this?" The question was soft, as if she didn't want to disturb whatever mindset Jay was in. Her hand paused its movement, resting on top of his head.

Once upon a time, Jay would have lied — would have considered lying — but now, he merely sighed. "Yeah," he answered, and a part of him still felt shame, that he could see himself being as intimate with someone else, someone from Auradon, as he was with those who've claimed him, claimed him even at his worst on the island.

Evie, though, simply held him close. "Did you imagine him instead of me just now?" she asked, nothing but curiosity in her voice.

Propping himself up, Jay leaned in to kiss her, to reassure her. "Never. You get all of my focus when we're together." He kissed her again, taken in with the shy smile she gave him in reply. "Besides," he continued, feeling his cheeks warm with the next confession, "when I picture being with Ben, my position is usually reversed."

He didn't know why he said it, but there was just something about Evie that made it extremely easy to confess his thoughts, his desires, his truth; with her, to be himself didn't seem so damning.

He was rewarded for his honesty, Evie caressing his cheek before delivering a lingering kiss.

"I'm glad you can picture that," she whispered into his lips, her soft smile genuine. "I'm glad you can be open with your wants."

"My wants," Jay echoed, shaking his head. "My wants are the problem." As always, he thought, hiding his face in Evie's shoulder.

This confession he couldn't make, not to her face.

"Your wants aren't bad, Jay," Evie said.

"They are if I can't separate them from what needs to be done." He cursed the way his voice shook, the way he needed to press into her for strength. "Evie, tomorrow scares me."

He felt rather than heard Evie's breath hitch. "Jay," she said, tone quiet, but no other words left her mouth.

"I'm not scared of dying," he said; that had been true since he was eight. "I'd gladly die as many times as needed if it means I can keep you and the others safe." And that had been true since the four of them entered their arrangement. "But I am scared of losing you," he said, finally looking at her. "I'm scared of losing Mal and Carlos." A shuddering sigh escaped him. "And I'm so scared of losing Ben. I have no right to be, but I am."

Evie stared at him, her soft features not negating the fact that Jay felt like her gaze measured his very soul. She placed her hand on his cheek. "You're scared of him seeing the real us, the real you."

Leave it to Evie to steal his breath.

"Yes," he said, much too breathy, his nerves starting to scatter, "and I'm scared of doing something tomorrow that will get him killed."

And that was his real nightmare, him doing something so mind-numbingly stupid that would condemn all of their lives, not just his useless one.

"I don't think I have what it takes to go up against Maleficent and live," he continued, quiet and ashamed, but he swallowed, looking Evie in the eyes. "But, Allah, I swear I'll do everything in my power to make sure you and the others survive."

Maleficent could do whatever she wanted with him, could condemn him for all eternity, so long as the ones who claimed him were free and alive.

Evie's bottom lip trembled, her eyes watery, and she leaned in, kissing him. "We're going to make it," she said, expression hardening. "We will make it. We'll take the wand, free our parents, and we will kill them. I will not let their touch taint Auradon." She framed his face with her hands, conviction in her eyes. "And I won't let them touch you ever again."

As weak as it was, Jay let out a chuckle, if only to distract himself from his chest tightening. "That's my line."

Smiling, Evie brushed her thumb against Jay's skin. "We'll protect them. We'll make sure they make it." Her smile faded. "Even if we die trying."

Jay looked at her, taking in her bare face, the way her hair had become wild, the way her eyes gleamed bright with determination. Never had she looked more beautiful. "Even if we die trying," he echoed, pulling her close, holding her tight.

He didn't want her to die, wanted her to live a long and healthy life away from the grip of her mother, but he understood. He understood how she felt, understood that he could never dissuade her decision, just as she could never dissuade him.

If today was the last day to hold her, to be near her, to be alive with her, then Jay would cherish it.

"You know," she began, once again running her fingers through his hair, "I made a few things that could help us tomorrow."

Intrigued, Jay glanced at her, as much as he could while still cuddling her close. "What kind of things?" he asked as he lazily traced little designs into her skin.

"Potions, mostly." Evie smiled at his raised eyebrow. "I can't really test them, of course, but I believe they'll do the job when it comes to it."

"I believe it, too," Jay said, kissing her shoulder.

He definitely believed Evie could do anything she set her mind to. More than that, he wanted her safe, and so he willed that whatever she had in that makeup box of hers would be formidable, would be exactly what she needed to take care of herself and the others.

Sighing deep and slow, Evie moved away from him, sitting up straighter. "I guess I should get to baking a small something for the antidote."

Before she could get off of the bed, Jay wrapped his arms around her waist and lightly pulled her back, smiling as she huffed when they fell back on the mattress.

"Excuse you," she said, trying to hold in her laughter. She tapped his arms. "Release me, good sir!"

"Nope," he said, his smile softening as she huffed again. "I'm gonna nap, and you're gonna be my prisoner while I sleep."

"Jay," Evie said, drawing out his name in her fondness. "There's still work to be done."

He shook his head, and he kissed her between her shoulder blades. "Stay here with me, just a little longer."

He hadn't meant to sound so quiet, so desperate, and the silence grew as he stared at her back, as he focused everything he had to keep from tightening his hold on her.

Evie's little sigh broke through the quiet, and she shifted, not to move out of his arms but to turn so that they were facing each other. She smiled for him. "Just a little longer."

Heart fluttering, Jay pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair as she settled against him.

Just a little longer, he thought, closing his eyes and basking in Evie's warmth. Let them have this peace, let them have each other, free from worry of death or of all the possibilities of failing, just a little longer.

And then they would focus on their task.

And then they would face tomorrow with their hearts steeled.

———

Carlos stared at his laptop screen.

Or, more accurately, he stared at the clock on his laptop screen, as if his gaze alone could slow the minutes passing, as if he could give them more time to deal with today.

Because he couldn't shake the feeling that their plan was going to turn to shit.

After all, they didn't have a great track record under their belts.

Add that to the fact that they've managed to earn the ire of both Jane and Audrey, there was no way today wouldn't be a disaster.

"You okay?" Jay asked as he came out of the bathroom.

"Shouldn't that be my line?" Carlos asked in return, almost automatic, blinking at the way Jay leaned against the bathroom doorframe.

Jay snorted. "I'm not the one who's gonna melt their eyes staring at that screen."

"My eyes are fine," Carlos said, rolling his neck. "I just. Don't wanna mess anything up."

Jay said nothing as all traces of lightheartedness left his features, and he glanced down.

Cursing his honesty, Carlos shut the laptop a little more harshly than needed.

He had been doing well, all things considered, hadn't had a slip of the tongue since his conversation with Jane, and yet, on the very morning they'd be enacting their plan, he went and said something stupid.

Especially because he himself didn't have much to mess up. All he had to do today was run.

It was the one thing he was truly good at, so how could he mess up?

The door opening startled the both of them, but Carlos relaxed once he realized that Evie and Mal were the ones behind it.

Their outfits, though, made his stomach sink.

They were already in their gowns, and while Evie's he could accept — though the blue she wore was richer than any she'd worn before, and the material finer than any they had stolen on the island, she still looked like Evie — Mal was a different story.

She looked much too Auradon for Carlos' tastes, the lavender too light, the style too formal, the lace too pretty and neat. Even her hair was much too Auradon, too tidy.

The high collars they both donned, though, reminded him too much of their mothers.

"Boys," Evie said in greeting, holding two garment bags. "Time to get dressed."

Oh shit, why is this the one thing I didn't prepare for, Carlos thought, trying not to feel too ill.

"First thing's first," Mal said, expression already sour. She placed a tiny box on the table, and Carlos knew it held the love spell antidote inside. "Let's review before I leave."

"Damn, you have to go so soon?" Carlos couldn't help but ask.

Couldn't they delay just a little longer?

"She gets to have a carriage ride with Ben to the cathedral," Evie said with a sigh. "It's a leisurely ride, giving everyone with an invitation enough time to settle within the cathedral."

"Awesome," Jay said flatly, staring at Mal's dress. His gaze drifted upward and settled, his fingers turning the ring on his pinky.

Carlos blinked, following his gaze, and stared. Mal was wearing Jay's earring, the red jewel out of place next to the dangling pearls she wore — it was the only bit of the island on her; she probably insisted, and Evie, being Evie, had relented.

He didn't know why that calmed him so much.

"My luck," Mal said before taking a short breath. "Review, go."

"I use my mirror to find the closest vehicle that isn't boxed-in in the parking lot," Evie recited as she handed one garment bag to Jay.

Trying not to make a face, Jay said, "Evie gives me the image of the transport and the person who has the keys. I steal them with magic."

Carlos took the remaining bag from Evie. "Jay gives me the keys, Evie gives me the location of our transport, and then I wait to make a run for it once you get the wand." He glanced at Mal.

"When Mal grabs the wand, I throw some of my goodies anywhere I can," Evie said, tapping her makeup box. "Mostly smoke to cover us, but some will make people sleepy for a few moments, as an added distraction."

"I get us out of there," Jay said. He wasn't looking at any of them, his gaze on the bag in his hands, grip too tight, undoubtedly thinking on the fact that he'd most likely be using his magic so openly for the first time.

"Carlos," Mal said, turning to him, "what do you do if someone's by the transport?"

"Use one of Evie's nap time specials before knocking them out for real." He raised his eyebrow. "And what do we do if there's something in place we don't know about after you take the wand?"

The corners of her mouth twitching downward, she said, "Jay and I will use brute force, physically, magically, or both."

He stared at her before glancing at Jay. The both of them looked like they didn't want that to be an option, though Carlos assumed it was for different reasons.

Then again, he hadn't been at his best the last few days, so what did he really know?

"We'll just have to think on our feet if anything truly blows up in our face," Mal said, a frown fully on her lips. She sighed. "Guess I'll let you get them ready," she said, pulling Evie close for a lingering kiss.

"Good luck," Evie breathed out when they parted.

"Don't need it," Mal said as she moved to Jay. "I have you." She gently pulled him down for a kiss, her hand squeezing the back of his neck when he hummed into it. "I have all of you," she said when they parted.

Jay nodded. He handed her the box containing the love spell antidote.

Mal turned to him, and Carlos suddenly didn't know what to do.

Ben isn't spelled, he thought.

Jane knows we spelled him, she might know more, he thought.

I don't think we can kill Maleficent, he thought.

I don't want any of us to die, he thought.

Mal raised an eyebrow as she moved closer.

Oh fuck, can we do this, he thought as he faced her. "You have me, Mal," he said, too quietly. "I'll try to not let you down." Again, he thought as she leaned in to kiss him.

"I know," she whispered into his lips.

Oh fuck, he thought, even has he let himself get lost in her kiss.

"Breathe," she said when they parted, and Carlos didn't know if she was talking to him, herself, or them all.

"I've got them, Mal," Evie said, and she smiled for them when they looked at her. "Ben's waiting," she added, quieter, restrained.

Sighing, Mal nodded, her grip on the box tightening, and she walked to the door. "Breathe," she said again, and then she left.

Breathe, yeah right, Carlos thought, stomach churning, and he glanced at the others, not even comforted by the fact that Evie began fussing with Jay first.

The morning had come too quick, and now it felt like it would never end.

———

When she had awoken, Mal couldn't fight the sense that today would be the last day she took breath.

The feeling hadn't dissipated as she had met Ben at the school's entrance, her insides churning as she idly thought, This is where we first met. He had smiled then as he was now — though, she could now discern that his present smile was a lot more fond.

That didn't assuage her foreboding.

Still, she took Ben's hand and entered the carriage. She watched him speak with the attendants, with the sole reporter present, smiling good-naturedly as he did, even as his back was too rigid.

The reporter glanced her way, and it was Mal's turn to sit too straight, her fingers digging into the box she held, and it was only when Ben chuckled, when he moved to stand between them, that the tension slipped from her shoulders.

With the reporter seemingly satisfied with whatever answer he gave, Ben inclined his head and moved into the carriage, settling beside Mal before nodding to the coachman. "Deep breaths," he said, tone soft and affectionate, as the carriage began to move.

Easier said than done, Mal thought, watching the few gathered around wave them off with excited smiles.

The cathedral wasn't that far from the school, but at the pace they were traveling, it might as well have been across the ocean.

It was a conscious effort to keep her features neutral, but as she couldn't pull off pleasant, Mal figured it was the next best thing. She waved whenever there was a shout of her name, inclined her head toward the rest, and she kept silent, Ben's presence seemingly too much by her side.

Ben, who didn't seem affected by her internal dilemma, waved more frequently and with more enthusiasm, even as he remained calm and reserved, the picture of soon-to-be crowned regal.

Once the crown officially lies on his head... Mal thought, picturing Ben kneeling and awaiting Fairy Godmother's blessing, picturing his shock when Mal stole the wand.

Her grip on the box tightened, the sides denting to accommodate her fingers.

"Okay?" Ben asked, tone soft in his concern as his eyes traveled from the box to her face.

Mal blinked, easing her grip. "You'd think I'd be used to people staring."

"I don't think you ever truly get used to it," Ben offered with the tiniest half-shrug, but he still smiled for her. "You're doing great, though."

Outwardly, maybe, she thought as she tried to return his smile, idly tapping the lid of the box in her lap.

Ben tracked the movement, but he didn't say anything, merely continued waving at the people on Mal's side of the carriage.

"You're probably wondering about the box," she said, voice faraway to her own ears.

"Maybe a little," Ben said, the corners of his lips twitching upward, "but you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."

"It's something for you," she said, practically blurted out, sitting straighter at the surprise on his face. "For later." She watched her hand offer the box to him. "For later."

Tilting his head, he opened the lid, setting her frazzled nerves adrift further. "A cupcake?" He took it out, inspecting it. Chocolate with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles.

"Yeah," she said, blinking at how he blinked at it. She cleared her throat. "You had said you don't eat before a big game, so we figured it would be the same today. So that's for later. For after. So you can breathe and be yourself again."

Watch it, she thought, stomach churning at her slip of the tongue. She watched his gaze flicker to her face before settling back on the cupcake.

Don't question it, she thought, heart rate rising.

She nearly gasped in relief when he smiled.

"Be myself, huh," Ben said, smile still in place when he looked at her. "Thank you, it looks delicious." A chuckle left him, his smile growing warmer. "So much so that I can't wait."

And he took a bite.

Horrified, Mal barely got out a panicked, "Wait!" before she watched him swallow.

What do we do now, she thought, staring at Ben as he regarded her curiously.

It should happen any moment, she thought.

"Mal?" he asked, eyes searching her face.

He'll realize we've been using him, she thought.

"Everything okay?" he asked, brow drawing together.

"That's my line," she said, voice once again faraway. "How do you feel?"

His features smoothed, and his smile returned. "Wonderful."

Say it, she thought as she forced herself to ask, "And how do you feel about me?"

A small huff escaped Ben, eyebrows raised. "You've never asked me that before."

That can't be right, she thought, staring at him; it was a question that was always on her mind whenever she dealt with him. "It matters right now," she heard herself say.

Ben gave a small nod. "Because you think the love spell is gone now?"

"Yes," she said automatically, idly aware of her heartbeat skipping.

Wait, she thought, her mind screaming at her as Ben's smile became sheepish as he stared at whatever expression formed on her face.

Is gone now, he said, her mind yelled at her.

"You knew," Mal said, disbelief marring her accusation.

"I knew you spelled me," Ben confirmed, a not-quite-wince on his face.

"And you're okay with that?" she asked, numb and incredulous.

Ben shrugged. "I understand why you did."

A spike of fear clawed at her back. "Oh?"

"You said it yourself, didn't you, that you've never dated before," Ben said, searching her face, expression soft. "That you didn't know what love feels like."

How can you be real, she thought, chest tightening. Shouldn't he be furious? "How long have you known?"

"Since our first date," Ben admitted, biting his lip, as if he could ever be in the wrong in this situation. "The spell washed off in the enchanted lake."

Enchanted, she thought, cursing herself for not realizing; she knew she felt magic there. But as she took in how Ben watched her, no judgment or contempt in his gaze, only concern, only embarrassment, Mal decided to focus on another issue.

"And so..." she began, her voice trailing when Ben became fully attentive, just like he had done countless times in the past month. Because it was him. She cleared her throat. "So what, you've been faking this whole time?"

But even as the question left her mouth, she knew the answer, knew it in the way Ben smiled for her, small but soft, knew it in the way he took great care to gently take her hand in his; it was the same behavior he'd been displaying toward her.

It shouldn't be possible, she thought, throat closing, heart fluttering at just how bright his eyes were as he looked at her.

"I haven't been faking anything," Ben said, proving her right, and he brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Mal, when I said I wouldn't lie to you, I meant it."

A huff escaped her before she had the sense to control it; no need to go into hysterics while in the public's eye. "Except for the whole pretending to be spelled bit." Despite her words, she squeezed Ben's hand, afraid he'd let go.

Wincing, Ben said, "I know, and I'm sorry for doing that, really, I am, but..." He glanced at their hands; he hadn't let go of hers. "I didn't think I'd get the chance to be friends with you, any of you, much less date you, otherwise. It was selfish of me, but I can't regret it."

"So you answered every question honestly," she repeated, still dumbfounded. She blinked, still trying to work her brain around the revelation. "You didn't mind the others tagging along on our dates." Her heart began racing as she thought of Ben's interaction with the others, of all the things he said to and about them. "You... You weren't faking your attraction to them."

It shouldn't be possible. And yet...

"I never lied about my attraction to them," Ben confirmed, holding her gaze despite the blush on his cheeks. "And I'm sorry for making you so agitated on occasion."

A laugh left her, abrupt and incredulous. "I think that should be my line. Blind obedience, you had said I wanted."

Having orders barked at him, suffering various invasive questions, enduring the fact that she was incapable of reining in her emotions or suspicions, and yet Ben chose to stay with her of his own volition. Mal couldn't understand it. She even threatened him, for fuck's sake.

Her eyes widened, horror-struck. "I hit you!" She pulled her hand out of his, the contact burning her; she was unworthy of his touch, even if he didn't see it.

Though he gave a small nod, there was nothing in Ben's expression that bore her any ill will.

She didn't deserve his grace. "Ben," she began, but she realized she didn't have the words, and when she needed them most!

"Mal," Ben began softly, "we were all anxious and not exactly forthright with and about each other. It's understandable that tensions would rise."

Her throat closed, but she managed to ask, "It's understandable for me to hit you?"

Ben's expression didn't change. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course not!" she hissed out. It had taken everything she had not to find Carlos afterward and cry.

Her shame didn't change the fact that she laid a hand on Ben, of all people.

Giving another little nod, he asked, "Are you going to hit me again?"

She stared at him, at the subtle way he braced himself. He shouldn't even be entertaining me, she thought, he should just push me out of the carriage and his life altogether. "No."

The word was more than her answer; it was her vow.

"Okay then," he said, a small breath leaving him, and with it, the little tension he had. "We can discuss it further when we discuss everything with the others. You know," he continued as he once again took her hand in his, his touch ever gentle, "so that everyone's on the same page at the same time going forward."

Going forward; there won't be a going forward, she thought, growing somber by the second.

He loves them, without a spell's influence; Jay and Evie won't be able to give you up if they knew, she thought, her chest tightening.

She froze.

Ben wasn't spelled.

And yet he didn't fault them.

They had used him.

And he didn't fault them.

Carlos was right, Mal thought, horrified: Ben would fight for them, regardless.

How can I salvage this, she thought, staring at Ben, unable to unsee all of the sketches in her notebook that rendered him dead and bloodied.

Ben gave her a soft smile. "There's another thing I need to apologize for," he began, voice as soft as his expression.

"Don't," Mal blurted out, close to hysterics, "I don't think I can handle any more apologies." Especially when they aren't warranted, she thought.

"One more, and I promise I'm done." Despite his words, he waited for her to nod before speaking again. "I'm sorry for my arrogance on our first date."

Mal blinked. "Excuse me?"

"When I said that I could teach you what love feels like," he clarified, sheepish once more. "You didn't need me to teach you. You've known all along." He smiled, besotted and proud and undeniably Good. "You love Evie, Jay, and Carlos so deeply, just like they love you."

Chest impossibly tighter, Mal could only stare at Ben, at his warm smile, at his kind eyes.

He wasn't spelled.

He didn't fault them.

He'd fight for them.

"Mal..." Ben said, cutting into her thoughts, his voice trailing as he pulled out a box of his own.

Dread settling in her gut, Mal refrained from moving, from doing anything.

"It's okay if you don't want it," Ben assured, that smile on his face, the one that was small and resigned, the one he wore when he presented the others with their gifts. "I just didn't want you to feel left out."

"Spare my feelings, please," Mal said automatically, blinking at the box.

Smile softening, Ben opened the box, revealing a glittering ring, a simple band that shone in the sunlight.

"What is it," she murmured, feeling something from it but unsure what.

"A ring made from a gem found at the bottom of the enchanted lake," Ben said, watching her.

She raised an eyebrow. "As in when the spell broke?" What made him think that this, a reminder of her failed plan and her betrayal of him, would be an appropriate gift?

Cheeks darkening a shade, Ben nodded. "You see, that lake has a mind of its own. It senses things. It knows people. And it let you in." He looked her in the eyes. "Mal, this ring is a reminder that you jumped into a lake to save a fool despite not knowing how to swim; it's a reminder that you chose to save a life."

A laugh escaped her unbidden, just a huff of air, and Mal looked at Ben, unable to fathom his existence. How could something like him be real? "What if I were doing that for a selfish reason?" she asked, despite knowing he wouldn't have her try to talk her way out of his graces.

"Would you risk your life just for a selfish reason?" he asked in turn, a gleam to his eyes.

She swallowed. "Depends on your definitions."

Ben smiled, though, small as it was. "You won't change my mind. The lake saw your goodness, just like I do."

He doesn't fault you, a little voice kept repeating in her head. "Ben..."

"You don't have to accept it," Ben said gently. "I just didn't want you to feel left out."

"If I accept it," Mal began, trying to keep her voice steady, "does that mean you'll stay" — she swallowed, heart racing — "you'll stay with us?"

Taking her hand in his once more, he gently slid the ring onto her right middle finger. "I was hoping to stay with you all regardless." His gaze traveled from the ring to Mal, smile kind and eyes hopeful.

He'll fight regardless, that little voice whispered.

Mal swallowed.

She needed to tell him, she needed to warn him, she needed to focus on her task, she needed—

"Thank you," she said, surprised by how much she meant the words. Before she could lose her senses to his smile and eyes again, she continued, "We'll need to have a serious talk after your coronation. All of us."

If I'm still alive, if you don't hate us afterward, she thought, refraining from clutching at his hand.

"Of course," Ben agreed easily. He still held her hand. "Until then, let's just breathe." He demonstrated his words by taking a steadying breath, smiling as he returned to acknowledging the people in the street.

Just breathe, she thought, and Mal half-heartedly followed his lead.

Breathe.

The rest of the carriage ride passed uneventfully, the only thing keeping her grounded Ben's hand holding hers, even when they arrived at the cathedral and she felt as if retching her lungs out would be more appealing than entering the hallowed halls.

Still, she held Ben's hand and exited the carriage. She walked with him up the steps and through the cathedral doors into the narthex, where an attendant waited for her; she couldn't walk in procession down the nave with Ben.

He had to make that trek on his own.

Even so, he leaned in to kiss her cheek, giving her hand a squeeze before relinquishing it to the attendant. He mouthed, "Breathe."

An amused huff left her unbidden, causing Ben to smile, which she tried to return, but she was led away before anything else could be shared between them.

Telling herself to breathe over and over, she let the attendant lead her down the left side aisle, and she resolutely refused to look at the faces in the crowd, refused to search out Jay, Evie, and Carlos lest someone, somehow, discern their plan from her gaze.

She forced her body to remain calm, forced her feet into steady steps as the attendant brought her to the dais where Belle and Adam were waiting, sitting in the front two chairs. Fairy Godmother sat in the chair behind Belle.

Breathe, she thought, her inner mantra, as she climbed to the remaining chair, curtsying for all three adults despite the stab of disgust in her stomach.

Belle and Fairy Godmother smiled and inclined their heads, but Adam merely gave a curt nod, face impassive.

Jaw flexing, Mal sat down and stared straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him any more than she needed, refusing to stare at the wand under its force field atop the pedestal.

Unfortunately, doing so let her gaze settle on Jay and the others, but the fact that they were closest to the nave made her breathe easier; they wouldn't have any trouble separating from the crowds.

The pipe organ came to life, filling the cathedral with a light yet ceremonious melody, and the choir joined in as everyone turned to the entryway.

Ben appeared, shoulders back and chin up as he began his procession.

Taking a shuddering breath, Mal stood, perhaps a second or two later than the adults next to her, and she waited.

She never liked waiting.

The crowd bowed as Ben moved past them, including Jay and Evie.

Carlos, Mal noted, did not bow, only kept staring right at her.

I know, she thought, hoping Carlos understood. She clutched the skirt of her dress.

Ben arrived at the base of the dais, gaze flickering to her briefly as a small smile appeared on his lips before he affected solemnity once more. He climbed the steps, the picture of regality, even as he knelt before Fairy Godmother.

Fairy Godmother moved between Adam and Belle, facing Adam expectantly.

Though his lips were pressed together, Adam genuflected, allowing the crown to be taken from his head.

You never deserved it, Mal thought, keeping her expression in check as she watched him stand, taking Belle's hand and moving to the back two chairs.

Which meant Mal had to step forward to the front chair.

Fuck, just breathe, she thought as she moved, her shaky steps hopefully masked by her dress.

With any luck, the cathedral would focus solely on Ben receiving the crown than any fumble she might make with her movements.

"Is Your Majesty willing to take the Oath?" Fairy Godmother asked, voice ringing out in the now silent cathedral.

"I am willing," came Ben's dutiful response.

"Do you solemnly swear to govern the Peoples of the United Sovereignties of Auradon, and to any belonging or pertaining to the Kingdoms under Its banner, according to their respective laws and customs, as long as you shall reign?"

"I solemnly swear so to do."

"Will you solemnly promise to the utmost of your power to cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?"

"I solemnly promise so to do."

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of the Universe and the true profession of the Star? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Sovereignties of Auradon the Code of Balance established long before the Banner of Auradon was formed?"

Mal tried not to make a face. That part hadn't been said in the rehearsal.

With a gleam in his eyes, Ben answered, "All this I promise to do."

"Then it is my honor and my joy to bless our new High King," Fairy Godmother said, the joy in her tone palpable. She turned to retrieve the wand from its pedestal.

Take it, Mal told herself, her heart racing. She watched as Fairy Godmother took hold of the wand, bringing it out of its force field. Grab it now before anything else happens, she thought, glancing at Jay, Evie, and Carlos in the crowd.

Mal took a breath.

It was stolen from her in the next series of moments.

Jane had appeared by her mother's side, grabbing the wand before Fairy Godmother could place it upon Ben's shoulders.

As soon as Jane's fingers grasped it, the wand sparked, glowing bright and angry as Jane moved away from the dais, away from Ben.

"Child, what are you doing!" Fairy Godmother cried, trying to follow her daughter.

"I won't let them," Jane said, nearly muffled by the now crackling wand, its sparks becoming more frequent and intense. Her arms shook with the effort to wield it, to contain the magic frothing in her hands. "I won't—" A scream erupted from her mouth, the wand glowing so bright, almost as if releasing a bolt of lightning.

———

Nine things happened in the lands of Auradon in that moment, quick and simultaneous.

One, the wand did indeed release a bolt of lightning — raw, wayward magic that sought out the highest concentration of its kin in the land. The barrier that surrounded the Isle of the Lost was a beacon of a blinding degree, and once it reached its destination, that raw, wayward magic crashed through the barrier — it breached a hole but did not destroy completely.

Two, the breach in the barrier, despite being relatively small, caused all enchantments placed upon the island to break, and something that should not have been disturbed had begun to awaken.

Three, the island, now freed from all enchantments, began plunging into bloody, deadly chaos — the island would never be the same. It would never be an island again.

Four, Jane's mind and soul were consumed by the wand for a few, agonizing seconds, in which time she had seen too much — in which time she had learned just how far-reaching her one action could be.

Five, Evie had stayed still, watching in horror as Jane's scream continued into eternity, and a sense of foreboding over took her as she watched Jane thrash about, every nerve opening and catching on fire as Evie felt something wrap her in a feather light embrace — a type of magic she couldn't quite place, leaving her memory in the next few moments.

Six, Jay had taken a step forward as soon as he saw Jane with the wand, but he now remained frozen in place, horror-struck at the young half-fae in agony, his heart racing not only at her pain but at a ghost of a sensation engulfing his body — a type of magic he wasn't fully aware of, secretly laying its claim on his blood.

Seven, Mal had risen from her seat, the shock of Jane's torment visceral, and not only was she hit with the intensity of Jane's pain, she was hit with something else, something that rushed all around her, something that had her eyes emerald of their own accord — a type of magic that tried to consume her, clawing its way to freedom.

Eight, Carlos felt nothing — only fear from seeing the normally composed and concealed Jane stripped bare in her pain, her scream growing in intensity.

Nine, Maleficent screamed as the barrier was breached, for her powers finally returned to her, finally awakened fully after twenty years of dormancy. She snapped at her guests, told them the time to act had arrived. Taking the Dragon's Eye, she vanished into green smoke.

———

The wand's glow dimmed, and as it did, Jane's screaming finally ceased, her whole body twitching in time with the few sparks that the wand still emitted.

A long second passed in petrified silence, all eyes on Jane.

The wand began to glow again, the sparking intensifying once more, and Jane whimpered.

The fool will kill herself, Mal thought, and she rushed toward Jane without thought. She'll kill herself and everyone here, she thought, panic rising as she reached for the wand, swearing to herself she wouldn't let that happen.

She would not let someone like Jane be responsible for the deaths of those she claimed or Ben.

There was a brief struggle to dislodge the wand from Jane's burnt hands, gasps and murmurs echoing throughout the cathedral at the action, but Mal managed to pry it from her, the wand glowing bright for a moment before settling.

Mal's heart had never beat so fast, her right hand much too warm. She let out a shaky breath now that Jane and Ben and the others were safe, marveling at the wand's tranquility in her hand, and she glanced at Jane, freezing when Jane's eyes stared back at her, almost as if staring into her soul.

She has no pupils, Mal thought when she realized that Jane's eyes were abnormally icy blue — and only icy blue.

"Mal..." came Ben's voice, and with it, whatever enchantment had taken over Jane broke.

The calm, pupil-less eyed, almost ethereal being before Mal had vanished, leaving in its wake a normal looking, terrified young girl, shaking from the entire experience.

What the fuck, Mal thought, but movement at her right distracted her, and she instinctively adjusted her stance, wand brandished like a sword.

Ben paused, his hands already positioned so that Mal could easily see them, his posture as nonthreatening as he could make it. "Mal—"

"Stand back," Mal found herself saying. She didn't lower the wand.

Swallowing, Ben raised his hand, offering it to her. "Mal, it's okay."

"I said stand back," she hissed out, her grip on the wand tightening even as she felt Jay and the others rush to her side.

Don't make me hurt you, she thought, her frazzled nerves buzzing.

"Their plan was to steal the wand," Jane murmured, her body trembling. "I couldn't stop this." She glanced at Ben, a frown on her face.

Mal turned to Jane, wand at the ready. She knew, Mal thought, her nerves shot, her magic bubbling below the surface.

Ben moved in front of her, shielding Jane, expression and bearing unchanged. "You don't have to do this."

A scoff left her mouth unbidden. "You don't know anything."

"I know that you are good," Ben said, adamant, upset.

"So what if I am!" Mal yelled, her frustration mounting. "Do you honestly think I'd ever abandon the ones behind me?" She didn't care what anyone thought of them. She didn't care that Ben had done everything to be sweet and gentle and loving to them when no one else dared. "I would rather die than let Maleficent or any of their parents touch them again."

If their parents got off of the island and obtained the wand, Mal knew it would be the end. Maleficent would ruin everything she touched. Grimhilde would torture Evie until there was nothing left. Jafar would have complete control over Jay's body and mind. Cruella would finally kill Carlos.

Mal would not let that be their fate.

"I will not let the ones I claimed as mine suffer another moment under our parents," she continued, and as she stared at Ben, as she looked into his eyes, she lowered the wand, by only a fraction. "Nothing will stop me from protecting them. Not even you."

Her voice had shaken, damn her.

Ben's face crumbled, but he didn't move toward them, instead gazing at them with those sad, pleading eyes of his. "There has to be something—"

"Ben," Jay said quietly, taking a step forward. "You don't know what our parents are like. You don't know what they've done." His voice shook, whether at the memories or the thought of those memories being inflicted on Ben, Mal didn't know. "You can't know."

"And you never will," Evie said softly, speaking to Ben even though she took hold of Jay's hand. "We won't let them touch you." She offered Ben a smile, small and fragile as it was.

"We'll make sure they won't," Mal said, more for Evie's and Jay's sake than anything else, but it was a promise nonetheless.

She had promised to kill their parents.

"Mal, Jay, Evie, please," Ben begged, physically refraining from moving toward them.

"I'm sorry, Ben," Mal said, stricken with how true her words were, how sorry she actually felt at denying him. "If my choice is you or protecting the ones behind me, then I have to choose them. I will not abandon them to suffer at our parents' hands."

"I understand, believe me, I do," Ben said, the emotion he felt, the heartbreak, openly in his expression for the world to see. "But please, let me help you."

Mal shook her head. "No, you would be the first one they kill. I can't let that happen either."

"But—"

"I won't," Jay interrupted, voice thick with emotion, fear battling conviction on his features. "I will not let Jafar touch you. He can't—" Jay's voice broke, and that fact made Ben take a step closer.

Mal raised the wand an inch higher as Evie spoke.

"Don't, Ben," she pleaded, "I know you want to help, but this is a fight you can't win."

"We need to handle our parents," Mal said, words more confident than she felt. "We're the only ones who can take them on."

Ben, either sensing that they weren't telling the whole truth or guessing at their intention, frowned, and he took another hesitant step forward. "You—"

A crash of thunder sounded as a black bolt of lightning struck the ground between Mal and Ben, the force of the impact throwing Mal back into Jay and the others and throwing Ben back into Jane, the both of them landing by the base of the dais. Black and green smoke rose from the point where the bolt impacted the ground, causing people to scream and back away as a sinister, horned form began to take shape.

"You ignorant fools!" Maleficent shouted as she solidified, the smoke dissipating around her. Her robes were no longer mix-matched and tattered, instead pitch black with fine purple lining, and she held the Dragon's Eye in her hand, the stone pulsing on top of the staff. Her magic, controlled and immense, radiated off of her very being.

For the first time in her life, Mal looked upon Maleficent and saw what it meant to be a Great Fae.

Well shit, Mal thought, panic rising as she stepped in front of Jay and the others, so much for their game plan.

"It can't be..." Fairy Godmother gasped, fear tainting her expression.

Maleficent turned her gaze on Mal. "Hand me the wand now!"

Mal's grip on the wand tightened, and she knew she had only fractions of seconds to respond before her mother acted. I can't do it, she thought, heart freezing as she remembered her dreams. She didn't have the power to take on her mother, to protect those she loved.

Mal...

Blinking, Mal glanced at Fairy Godmother, held her steady gaze, and Mal reacted before she could properly process it, too busy noticing how her mother had taken a step toward her.

Gasps were heard all throughout the cathedral as the wand landed in Fairy Godmother's hand, and for one brief moment, Mal stood frozen as she looked at her mother, as she registered the disbelief that turned into fury on her mother's face.

"You ungrateful, little—" Maleficent snarled out as she turned to Fairy Godmother.

Eyes narrowed, Fairy Godmother raised her hand, the wand glowing. "Begone! Bibbidi—"

"Be still!" Maleficent commanded as she struck the ground with her staff, a wave of magic washing over everyone, chilling and immobilizing.

Mal heard Evie gasp behind her, and it wasn't hard to miss how everyone had become frozen in position, living statues all about the cathedral, their terrified expressions etched into place as they cowered or tried to get away.

To affect so many so quickly, the prowess was overwhelming.

Maleficent glared at Fairy Godmother — or at the wand, Mal couldn't be sure — before turning to Mal and the others, her eyes flashing emerald green as wrath overtook her features. "You had one job," she said, voice low and steady yet full of rage. "Steal the wand and bring it to me. Twenty years of planning, wasted!"

Why doesn't she just take the wand now and be done with it, Mal thought as she watched her mother move toward the dais, a sneer on her face as she looked at the royalty present, as she looked at Ben's form, frozen mid-step toward them.

That cold gaze cut to Mal so fast it hurt. "The wand cannot be taken by force, you stupid child, not for personal gain. It becomes too wild in its defense." Maleficent scoffed, glancing at Jane, frozen on the floor at the base of the dais. "Foolish. She'll never be the same."

Her nerves on fire, Mal did her best not to look at Jane, to analyze, to wonder what the fuck she had been thinking.

"What a waste," Maleficent lamented, tone still laced with anger. "And for what?" She moved toward Ben's frozen form, her hand reaching for his face.

"Don't—!" Jay said, taking a step forward without thinking, stopping his movements as abruptly as he began them, hands balled into fists.

Maleficent, slow and deliberate, turned to them, eyebrow raised. "What?"

Swallowing, Mal blocked Jay from Maleficent's gaze, and she fixed her mother with a hard stare she didn't quite feel. "Do not touch Ben," she said evenly.

For a few agonizing seconds, Maleficent stared. Then, she scoffed. "What is this?" Her hand cupped Ben's chin, her eyes narrowing when Jay and Evie took another step forward. "Oh dear, do you wretched fools think this is love?" She sneered. "What do you know of love?"

The question pierced Mal's heart, and despair would have taken her if it weren't for Ben's earlier words echoing in her head: I didn't need to teach you.

Her right hand grew warm.

Nerves steeling, Mal said, "We know more than you."

Maleficent's face went blank. She removed her hand from Ben's chin.

"We know we're worthy of it," Mal said, growing more confident despite the unease in her gut. "Despite everything you and their parents taught us, we are worthy of love."

"Worthy..." Maleficent murmured. With slow, menacing steps, she moved toward them.

Unable to help herself, Mal took a step back, and she cursed herself for showing such weakness. The presence of Jay and the others couldn't even comfort her, fear for their safety overpowering any other thought.

"I know what you are, and I know what you are not," Maleficent said, eyes narrowing, "and you are not Good. Look around you. What do you see? Bodies frozen, the whole cathedral a perfect tableau of how helpless and weak normal humans are." She continued toward them, eyes glowing, the cathedral darkening with each step. "Why do you think the five of us remain untouched?" Pausing, she stared at them, a slow smile creeping across her lips, and she seemed much taller, more imposing, more menacing, than she had ever been on the island. "Your hearts are as black as mine."

The words cut Mal, and she could only imagine what the others had felt. "That's not true..." Her voice trailed of its own accord, and she couldn't shut out the whisper in her mind of you know it's true.

"It doesn't matter what you believe or what you want," Maleficent said, simple and with no flare. "What you are has been preordained."

"We are not destiny's playthings," Mal said, feeling too hollow. Preordained, she thought, recalling all of her dreams, wondering if they were truly visions of horrible things to come. "We aren't anything's playthings," she said aloud, more to reassure herself.

"Playthings," Maleficent echoed, amusement on her features. "Are you certain? Don't you miss your parents?" she asked, her gaze drifting to Jay, Evie, and Carlos. "I know Jay misses Jafar, misses how the man beds him twice a year. He misses being bent and twisted against his will, reduced to nothing but flesh. I know how he yearns for his father inside him."

"Stop it," Mal said, horrified, and how she wanted to turn to Jay, to comfort, but she refused to take her eyes off of her mother.

Her mother, who only grew more amused. "Doesn't Carlos miss being Cruella's pet? Serving her night and day, obeying every whim. He misses the crude kennel she made just for him, misses the beatings she dealt that left him barely able to breathe."

"Stop it!" Mal said louder, fiercer, and her anger grew. What right did Maleficent have to bring any of this up.

"And Evie," Maleficent continued, a smile curling her lips, "she misses her mother's torture most of all. Only her mother knew the tarnished soul within, knew of her insatiable need for pleasure and of her craving for starvation. She misses how that acid washed away her flesh."

"Stop!" Mal shouted, and she could feel her magic bubbling. She has no right, she thought, her hands twitching as she looked at her mother.

"And you, Mal, oh daughter mine," Maleficent said, unaffected by Mal's anger, "you miss the power you held over them, over the island. You miss how your little minions were broken and helpless, how they needed you to even continue living."

She wanted to scream, to curse, to cut, but no words left her mouth, her body frozen. Mal stared at her mother, helpless.

And judging by the smirk on her face, Maleficent knew it as well. "None of you can fight what you are, and none of you belong in Auradon."

"Enough!" The word burst from Mal's lips, powerful and angry. "Your words are poison, and we won't listen to another!"

"The truth is poison, little girl, to those who refuse to hear it. Remember that."

"The truth?" Mal scoffed. "The truth is you're responsible for how shitty their parents were!"

Maleficent huffed, unimpressed. "What an ignorant child. I had nothing to do with the actions they took against their spawn. Jafar raped Jay because he wanted to, and he continued to do so because Jay was weak. Cruella beat Carlos because she didn't care enough about the boy otherwise. Grimhilde starved and tortured Evie out of her bruised vanity and resentment. The only actions I controlled were my own."

"You're lying..." Mal said, unnerved that she couldn't get a proper read on her mother. She had spoken too calmly, as if what she were saying was the truth. It can't be, she had to have had a hand in it, she thought, trying and failing to read Maleficent.

"I may be a lot of things, daughter mine, but I am not a liar," Maleficent said. Her impassive face broke out into a small smile. "But if you want to blame me for something, then I shall grant your wish."

Oh fuck, Mal thought, unease rising as a chill climbed up her spine.

"Since you and yours have so enjoyed the wonders of Auradon, let me bestow a gift to both its people and its newly crowned king," Maleficent said, both her voice and her smile sweet.

"Mother..." Mal said, the warning — whatever it was worth — clear in her tone.

Maleficent merely pressed her finger to her lips before she held up the Dragon's Eye, her free hand circling the stone. "To better understand how agonizing twenty years without magic has been, watch now as your beloved king and those gathered here are encased in stone to die a slow death."

"No!" Mal shouted, mixing with the dismayed yells from Jay and Evie.

But it was too late.

Maleficent had punctuated her spell by bringing down the Dragon's Eye, and the moment the staff clashed with the floor, a wave of magic rushed from the impact point, causing stone to break from the ground and form around the feet of all of the frozen people in the cathedral.

Throughout the cathedral, crackling sounded as the stone crept up everyone's legs, inch by slow inch.

"What have you done..." Mal watched in silence, mind racing for a way to stop what was happening. Taking a chance, she glanced at Jay. And she wished she hadn't.

Because Jay's anguish was as plain on his features as the color of his hair, and his eyes, his eyes were trained on Ben, on Ben's face frozen by Maleficent's first spell, frozen in concern — concern for others, for them, never himself.

A glance at Evie's face showed a different story. Her face was blank, the only tell she was terrified her wide eyes, her hands clenching and unclenching. She looked at Mal, pleading, and now more than ever Mal wished she could read Evie's mind.

Carlos' brow was creased, shoulders tense as his eyes mapped out escape routes, and Mal appreciated his effort, but she knew that Maleficent wouldn't let them leave without a fight.

A huff caught her attention, and she nearly snapped her neck turning to face Maleficent once more, her stomach dropping at the amused little smile on Maleficent's face.

"Did you honestly think any of you would be worthy of a boy as Good as him?" she asked them, eyebrow raised. "Did you think he wouldn't cast you out, just like the rest of them, when the blackness in your hearts is revealed?" All amusement faded from her features, and she was strangely serious when she spoke next. "You have no place among these people, and you most certainly have no place with him."

Mal swallowed, her hands twitching, wanting nothing more than to reach out to Jay and Evie who had sucked in quiet breaths at Maleficent's words.

"And the best thing about that?" Maleficent continued, her smile returning, little by little. "You do not care. You could walk away from this cathedral, from that Boy-King, and feel the barest amount." She huffed, nodding in Carlos' direction. "You and that de Vil runt care so little about any of this. And the little you care stems from the fact that your street rat and princess care too much for the Good King."

Maleficent smiled and pointed her staff toward Ben, the emerald glowing bright, and with a sound akin to glass shattering, the stone shot up to encase Ben to his torso.

Evie gasped, stepping forward in time with Jay as he called out, "Ben!"

Mal simply stared, acutely aware that both she and Carlos hadn't moved an inch.

"If not for them," Maleficent continued, that sly smile infuriating, "the spell I've cast on these people wouldn't bother you." She huffed again, shifting the Dragon's Eye to her right hand as she moved closer to Ben. "That gift he has given is wasted on you," she said, her eyes traveling to the ring on Mal's finger. "How's that for truth?" Maleficent caressed Ben's cheek with the back of her pointer and middle fingers, smiling at them. "How's that for poison?"

What can I do, Mal thought, her heart pounding in her ears, just barely masking the sound of stone encasing everyone, encasing Ben. What option was there, what path to take?

Was there even one?

The only path she saw in front of her led her to Maleficent, the only option to fight.

"Mal..." Jay spoke too quietly, but the urgency in his voice could not be mistaken.

If she didn't fight against Maleficent, Ben would suffocate.

"I'm no match against you," Mal began, eyes trained on her mother, "and yet I still made a vow."

If she fought against Maleficent, they could perish.

The smile left Maleficent's face. "A vow," she repeated, eyes not quite narrowing.

If she didn't fight against Maleficent, Jay, Evie, and Carlos would suffer their parents.

"In order to protect the ones I claimed, I vowed to kill you," Mal said, her magic right below her skin, burning her — though not as much as her mother's gaze. "Even if, in doing so, I die." Before she had even finished speaking, Mal had reached for her mother, her intent clear, and she watched as lightning left her fingertips.

Surprise settled over Maleficent, but only for a moment.

In the next, she had blocked Mal's attack with her staff. "You stupid little girl." She stood her full height, eyes gleaming. "You want a real fight," she said, low, baring her teeth. "You've got one."

The air left Mal's lungs as her body collided with the cathedral wall, her chest stinging from Maleficent's magic, lightning quick and absolutely brutal, and she gasped, her chest heaving rapidly, never before having felt the full force of Maleficent's attack.

"Pathetic!" Maleficent called, and another blast of energy hurled itself at Mal.

Fuck, Mal thought as she barely pulled herself out of the newly formed crevice in time. The ends of her dress were singed. Fuck, she thought emphatically, but she couldn't rest, and she dodged the now onslaught of attacks, staying near the walls of the cathedral, wondering if Maleficent would care about damaging her would-be statues.

Laughter reached her ears, and Mal peeked through the crowd and paled.

Maleficent grinned and outstretched her arm, her gaze never leaving Mal's face. A bolt of energy, green and bubbling like acid, flew from Maleficent's open palm straight to Ben's frozen form.

"Ben!" came Evie's cry.

Mal could only stare into her mother's eyes as the magic collided with Ben. Is he dead, is he still standing, is he even there, she thought, Maleficent's gaze piercing her.

A deafening silence engulfed them for a few, aching seconds.

Until Evie gasped.

Maleficent blinked, a crease to her brow as she turned — thank fuck, Mal thought as she followed her mother's gaze — to survey her handiwork.

Though a faint haze surrounded him, Ben still stood frozen in place, still encased up to his torso in stone, but otherwise unscathed, face still pristine despite the worry on his features.

Maleficent didn't move, instead staring at Ben with that impassive face Mal knew all too well. The only difference was the minute way she had narrowed her eyes.

And Mal held her breath, trying to understand what the fuck had happened, trying to devise some type of plan now that Maleficent was distracted, but Mal found herself dumbstruck. How had Ben withstood that attack, she thought, eyes shifting from her mother to Ben and back.

Mal had felt just how powerful Maleficent's magic could be, and yet Ben, who had never once given off an ounce of magical capability, had remained untouched, as if Maleficent hadn't targeted him at all.

It shouldn't be possible, she thought, staring at Maleficent, wondering if this was all a trick.

With understanding — understanding what, Mal thought frantically — blooming across her face, Maleficent turned to address Jay. "You..." She laughed, grin showing teeth. "Now I see why my daughter chose you. Now I see why Jafar kept his grip so tight. The power that lies dormant within you..."

Jay stared at Maleficent with wide eyes, barely breathing, brow creased as if he were focusing on something just out of reach.

"If I can't kill any of these people, I'll set my aim elsewhere." And with that, Maleficent flung her arm forward, sending a crackling, white hot jolt of energy right toward Carlos.

"Carlos!" Evie screamed as she violently pushed him out of the way, taking the bolt to the right side of her rib cage. The force sent her flying toward the entrance of the cathedral, messing up the old stones with the force of her impact to the ground.

"Evie!" Carlos shouted, and he was on his feet running toward her trembling body.

Mal didn't move, her nerves shot and her eyes trained on her mother despite how much she wanted to check on Evie.

"Powerful as you may be," Maleficent said, tone dangerous, "you cannot protect these people and the ones you claimed." Her hand rose, energy sparking around her fingertips. "So, who do you choose to protect? These people who'd rather spit at you than help you, or the ones who you've claimed as yours?"

It took Mal a stupid amount of time to realize that Maleficent had addressed the question to Jay instead of her, and Mal felt her heart against her chest as she waited on Jay's answer.

Jaw clenched, Jay didn't say anything for a second or two. He only stared at Maleficent with a crease in his brow. "The ones I claimed have power of their own, and I trust their power." He balled his fists. "I choose to protect Ben and his people."

"Ah," Maleficent said, "love." Her tone as well as her features radiated how unimpressed she was with the notion. She had even lowered her hand.

"What do you know about love," Jay spat, taking a step forward.

"More than you think, boy," Maleficent said, her eyes narrowing a fraction. "I have been alive for millennia. I was here in the presence of the Greatest Fae, before they decided to leave this corruptible plane." She moved closer to Jay, the Dragon's Eye and her free hand glowing. "I know more of this world and its creatures than you can fathom."

"You don't know everything," Jay practically snarled, and he lunged at Maleficent, catching her by surprise as he took hold of the Dragon's Eye.

And he screamed, abrupt but vigorous, as the emerald glowed brighter, sparks flying from where Jay had his hands around the staff.

"Fool," Maleficent said without pity. "You'll wish for death before the end."

Jay didn't flinch, but his arms shook. "What else is new," he all but growled out, and as fast as a snake strike, Jay flung out his arm, a burst of magic cutting across the short distance between them like lightning, and caused Maleficent to lose her grip on her staff.

Barely concealing his panting, Jay took a step away, holding the staff with both hands, ready for an attack.

"Clever," was all the Great Fae said, and she moved, faster than Jay ever could, and grabbed his throat. With an upward quirk of her lips, a wave of electric energy rushed from her hand at Jay's throat, encasing him for terrifying seconds as he screamed.

Maleficent ripped the staff from him as if it were a leaf on a stick.

In her grip, Jay's body kept twitching even as he clawed at her hand.

"Now be quiet." She thrust him upward, and with a grin and a little bit of magic, sent Jay flying into the ceiling of the cathedral. Before he could fall, Maleficent aimed her pointer finger at him, and a large spike made out of crystal shot out of her finger, impaling his chest and pinning Jay in place.

Even from her position, Mal could see Jay cough out blood.

Maleficent stared up at her handiwork with a blank expression, almost as if she were waiting for something else to happen.

Nothing did. Jay stayed pinned, coughing every now and then, his body trembling.

Looking away from Jay, Maleficent turned to Ben and stared.

What is she looking for, Mal thought, creeping toward her, one eye on her mother and the other on Evie and Carlos huddled together. She sent up a glance to Jay, taking in how his eyes were closed, expression contorted in pain.

He still hadn't moved his arms to the stake in the middle of his chest.

Fuck, how do we do this, Mal thought, gaze drifting back to Maleficent.

Mal froze when she realized that her mother was staring directly at her.

"All of you are suppressing your full potential. You'll never win as you are." Disgust painted her features for a moment before she raised her eyebrow. "But if you unleash what's inside of you, there will be no way back." She smiled. "Will it be worth it?

"To protect them?" Mal said, blood boiling at Maleficent's sneer. "Always."

Mal reached out with both hands, lightning flowing from all ten of her fingertips. She aimed for Maleficent's heart, but the magic was too wild to fine tune. All that mattered to Mal was that they strike her target, and strike they did.

If only she could tell if they actually damaged her.

Because Maleficent seemed unaffected as she moved toward Mal, the lightning striking and surrounding her making the gleam in her eyes more dangerous.

What was the move, Mal thought, heart racing the closer Maleficent got. You know what, fuck it, she thought, and she pointed at her mother, intent deadly, and from her finger shot out a spike, crooked and not as large, aimed directly at Maleficent's heart.

Blinking in surprise, Maleficent sidestepped, the projectile tearing the cloth at her shoulder before she caught it. With a smile, Maleficent thrust it upward, high into the air. She then snapped her fingers.

"Fuck!"

Jay's curse echoed throughout the cathedral, and Mal's head snapped up.

Maleficent had sent the spike right into Jay's thigh, and the impact had Jay trembling, one hand clutching the larger spike in his chest while the other reached for its new companion.

Thunderous crashes sounded throughout the cathedral, eerie and continuous, and Mal looked for the source, wondering what new obstacle they would soon face.

Maleficent's laughter rang out, triumphant and manic, and she glanced at Ben again.

Mal's eyes widened.

Where before only his torso was affected, stone now encased Ben up to his neck, and a glance around the cathedral told Mal that the stone had crept higher, and faster, on all the attendees.

"Fuck..." came a weak cry from above.

Holy fuck, Mal thought as her attention focused back on Jay, seeing him no longer reaching for the new spike. His eyes were closed again, his expression contorted — not in pain, as Mal had originally thought, but in concentration!

Eyes still on Jay, Mal listened, and sure enough, the noise in the cathedral quieted. Holy fuck, Jay, she thought, glancing around, noting that Ben and the others were no longer being devoured by stone.

"Insolent brat," Maleficent said, glancing up at Jay, and she opened her hand, flexing it when tendrils of black energy began to manifest.

She can't hit Jay again, he'll lose his concentration, Mal thought as she did the first thing her body told her to do. She brought her arms in tight as she balled her fists. "Enough!" she called, flinging out one arm, fingers and thumb pulled together as a massive bolt of energy struck Maleficent, knocking her enough that her hand and its tendrils fell.

"You need to learn a new trick," Maleficent said, unimpressed, arm raised.

Screw you, Mal thought as she brought up her other arm, hand opened as if it were a claw, and Mal watched in satisfaction as spikes shot out from the ground on which Maleficent stood, catching and tearing both fabric and skin.

As Maleficent snarled, Mal ran, getting away from Jay's position, from Evie and Carlos' position, mind racing with ways to distract Maleficent while they all try to come up with a plan to defeat her.

Flames burst from the ground, cutting off her path, and Mal turned around with just enough time to shield herself from Maleficent's staff, her arms crossed in front of her as she used her magic to keep the Dragon's Eye off of her skin.

The grin on Maleficent's face was too feral as she pushed the staff closer to Mal. "Do you really think you can stop me?" She rushed forward, cracking Mal's magical shield and knocking Mal to the ground.

Her arms shook with the strain to keep her mother's magic off of her.

"Do you think you can stop what's coming!" A spear of black crystal formed in Maleficent's free hand as she brought it downward, intent to pierce Mal's chest.

Mal... "Get up!" Mal!

Mal felt her eyes glow as her magic surged, and with that excess energy, she lunged forward, Maleficent's crystal spear scraping against the stone floor; Mal wrapped both hands around Maleficent's throat, satisfied with the widening of her mother's eyes, and Mal squeezed, her nails digging into Maleficent's flesh, sending as much energy as she could into Maleficent's being, electrifying her.

Get them out of here, Mal thought, hoping Evie would hear her, and she squeezed harder, drawing blood, determination building as she took in the sight of her mother, face contorted in pain, eyes shut.

I can do this, she thought, the scent of blood spurring her on, and she pushed more energy into her fingertips.

Maleficent's eyes snapped open, emerald burning within them, and with a burst of energy, she slammed the Dragon's Eye against Mal's skin.

Searing pain overtaking her, Mal let go with a shout, backing away from the staff but not before stealing the spear from Maleficent's other hand. Panting, Mal raised the weapon, intent to charge.

Despite the murderous expression on her face, Maleficent laughed. She snapped her fingers.

Pain erupted all throughout Mal's body, intense and absolute, seizing her to the point where she couldn't even scream in her agony. The crystal, the source of the torment, melted to her skin, crawling up her arms, so white hot that she thought her flesh would burn away.

"Pathetic," Maleficent said as she swung the Dragon's Eye toward Mal, its emerald glowing.

Mal! "Fight, Mal!" Mal.

The burn on her right hand, on her middle finger, different than the agony of Maleficent's crystal, began to engulf her, giving her renewed strength.

For them, Mal thought as she focused all of her might into what was left of the crystal, her body shaking now in her effort to push back the pain, to channel the molten blackness back into her hands.

A scream burst from her throat as her magic sent the crystal shards at her mother, and she barely kept herself upright as she watched the shards pierce Maleficent, tearing her robes and embedding themselves into her flesh.

"You're pathetic," Mal managed to snarl out, and she brought her hands together, her arms shaking with the effort, her nerves frazzled.

But it was worth it to see Maleficent's shock as the shards expanded, once again molten, encasing her no matter how wildly she struggled.

Let's see how you like suffocation, she thought, grinding her teeth as she clasped her hands, taking perverse delight at how Maleficent tried to claw at the black crystal now covering her entire body, at how desperate she was to get it off of her face.

Mal wouldn't allow it. She squeezed her hands tighter together. The ring on her middle finger shone brighter, her hands so warm.

Maleficent's reckless movements slowed to a halt.

Her encased body trembled in time with the tremors that racked Mal's own body.

But she remained motionless.

Stay, Mal thought, willed, demanded as her strength pooled entirely into her hands.

They shook once, twice, thrice with how tightly she pressed them together.

Maleficent remained frozen in crystal.

Maybe now we have a chance, Mal thought, hope digging its way into her tired and aching body.

Electricity coursed through her being, and Mal's breath left her.

The black crystal encasing Maleficent began to crack.

Despite how desperately she clung, Mal's hands shook too violently.

The cracks deepened, green smoke spiraling from the fissures.

Her lungs refused to take in air, and Mal could only stare as the smoke increased as her mother's form shook.

She squeezed her hands with strength she no longer possessed.

A fissure erupted down the middle of the black crystal.

Mal screamed, and she fell to her knees.

Her hands were no longer held together.

A resounding crack splintered the crystal into thousands of tiny shards that fell onto the floor.

Mal stared, breathing too heavily, unable to move, energy spent.

Maleficent stood still, blinking so slowly, droplets of blood emerging from several of the points where some shards had initially struck true. She appeared to be breathing heavily as well.

So you're not as invulnerable as you've claimed, Mal thought, brain working to make the next encasing stick.

Maleficent's eyes cut to Mal, sharp and dangerous. "You," she said slowly, tone as menacing as her expression, "have no idea what you've started." With the Dragon's Eye glowing, she raised her arms. "But you will find out."

No, Mal thought, filled with dread as her mother did the one thing she had been fearing since she was small.

Black fog and green fire surrounded Maleficent as her form distorted, growing in size, becoming even more angular. Her eyes turned a ghostly yellow as a sickeningly sharp maw formed, opening to reveal teeth and smoke and flame.

Mal stared into the face of the Dragon Fae, heart frozen for one second that felt too long, could only watch as Maleficent opened her maw in a sinister imitation of a toothy grin. Then, with a quickness that should not be possible for a creature of that size, struck Mal with her tail.

The force sent Mal airborne, and before she crashed into a wall, she noticed Evie walk toward Maleficent with purpose, a teal vial in her hand. Realization hit the same time the wall stopped her momentum, and with the breath that was stolen from her lungs, Mal cried out, "Evie, no!"

But Evie ripped off the cork of the vial, tossing it aside as she downed the contents, all the while giving Maleficent a death glare.

The Great Dragon only opened her mouth, fire sparking in mocking laughter.

Evie threw the vial, it crashing near Maleficent's front claws, and she did her best to hold herself upright as her body jerked in painful motions.

"What did she do," Carlos asked, horrified as he appeared by Mal, helping her to her feet.

"Something that should have been a last resort," Mal said, clutching her side as she leaned into him, watching as Evie shouted, half in anger and half in pain. "Evie!"

Maleficent roared, open mouth descending on Evie's twisting form.

Mal's heart stopped. Carlos gripped Mal hard enough to bruise.

A spark, a blinding light erupted from within Maleficent's mouth, preventing the dragon from closing completely on Evie, and with staggering movements, Maleficent backed away, roaring.

Evie stood before Maleficent, eyes ice blue and patches of her skin covered in frost. "Silence!" she shouted at Maleficent, and she flung her arms out, palms facing the dragon, and ice shot from her hands at Maleficent's face.

Maleficent roared in outrage as she clawed at the frost blinding her.

Evie did not let Maleficent recover.

Clapping her hands, Evie slowly parted them, something like a spear of ice forming in the space between, and she wielded it with both hands once it was fully formed.

She rushed at the dragon before her.

Is she crazy, Mal thought as she watched Evie slice at Maleficent's flailing body, but her eyes widened when she noticed that Evie had drawn blood, and that she continued to do so.

Holy fuck.

"C'mon," Carlos said, the urgency plain in his voice as he pulled at her arm even as he pressed something into her palm. "Evie's got a plan, and you need to be back at a hundred percent."

The thing he gave her was a vial, red liquid swirling as Carlos got her to move.

"Don't fucking stare at it, drink!" he hissed at her.

Mal ripped the cork out and chugged the liquid within the vial, eyes still watching Evie as she continued drawing blood from the dragon even as she dodged Maleficent's claws.

It felt like Mal had consumed fire, its heat spreading throughout her body too quick for comfort, the sensation dizzying. But she could breathe without pain anymore, could stand on her own, could feel her magic bubbling once more.

Evie truly was peerless.

"What's her plan?" Mal asked as she followed Carlos, one eye tracking how Evie sprayed ice at Maleficent's fire breath, keeping herself from harm.

"Wait for her to create a way to get to Jay, you get him down, and I shove this potion down his throat while you go assist Evie," Carlos whispered fiercely, eyes trained on Evie.

That seems haphazard, she thought, but then again, when had their plans ever actually been executed? Perhaps haphazard was the way to go.

Maleficent roared, making both Mal and Carlos jump, and the dragon turned, swinging her tail at Evie, breaking the ice spear even as it cut her flesh.

Evie had only just managed to dodge the full impact.

"Stay safe," Mal said, squeezing Carlos' shoulder, and she ran for Evie.

Carlos might have shouted something, but it was lost to another of Maleficent's roars.

Mal got to Evie in a flash, and she grabbed her wrist. Unbothered by Evie's surprise, Mal let her eyes burn emerald as she aimed both of their arms toward the dragon, and she focused on letting crystal shards fly from her finger tips to match the ice from Evie's hand.

Maleficent, incensed, swung her claws wildly, her fire breath filling the air of the cathedral.

Pulling Evie close, Mal whispered, "Get Jay, I've got her." And Mal kissed Evie.

The warmth shooting through her was just as dizzying, but this time it left a sting in its wake. Idly, as Mal pushed Evie toward Jay's position, she wondered if it was a good idea for her to consume part of Evie's newfound ice powers.

After all, Maleficent was harmed by it, so it should stand to reason that it should harm Mal as well.

But despite the sting Evie's kiss caused, Mal could only feel warmth within her, the need to protect the ones she claimed churning in her stomach. She just needed to believe in Evie, in the words Sweet had told her all those days ago.

It wasn't a full bowl that killed her in the first place.

Her eyes burning, Mal sent ice spikes at her mother's face with one hand while she brought her other hand upward, her hand shaped in a claw; ice spikes jutted from the floor beneath the dragon.

The roar emitted from Maleficent was deafening.

Chancing a glance over her shoulder, Mal saw that Evie had created a column of ice beneath her to get to Jay and was currently trying to unpin him from the cathedral ceiling, but she couldn't focus on them for long.

Maleficent was snapping her tail with abandon, undaunted by the blindness the ice had caused.

Then she stopped, stood still with her head cocked.

Mal held her breath, listening as well. And then she, too, froze.

Almost too faint to notice, the crackling had started once more.

Jay, Mal thought, heart racing, and she couldn't stop herself from turning, from seeking them out.

Evie had Jay in her arms, the spikes still embedded in his flesh, but Jay was now on the ground, with Carlos feeding him the potion.

The air left her lungs as Mal was slammed into the floor, body aching as Maleficent's clawed forepaw pushed down. The pressure made her nauseous, made breathing difficult, but Mal pushed her hands from beneath her, palms facing Maleficent's, and Mal threw her focus into producing ice spikes, creating barbs that would pierce and stay.

A growl sounded, and Maleficent released her, bellowing as she clawed at her injured palm.

Taking in much needed air, Mal rolled away, scrambling to her feet, making sure to keep herself between Jay and the dragon.

"Fuck!" came Jay's cry.

Mal did her best not to turn, forced herself to keep her mother in her sights, but she listened, straining to hear the crackling get louder.

But it never did.

Maleficent paused, her head held high as she apparently surveyed what Evie had done to Jay.

Mal took a step toward the dragon. You won't touch them again, she thought, her magic bubbling. She entrapped her mother once, she could do it again.

That horrid maw opening, Maleficent lowered her head, staring at Mal with those ghastly yellow eyes. They began glowing, eerily bright and strangely piercing.

Mal steeled herself, and she let her own eyes glow emerald. The last time she engaged in a stare down with Maleficent, she lost because she couldn't bear the thought of being consumed by her mother's magic. No longer. She vowed she'd kill her, or die trying.

Maleficent snapped her mouth, eyes impossibly brighter.

Not this time, Mal thought, keeping eye contact.

And then, magic sparked between them, pulling and intense, and Mal couldn't breathe.

The magic that had sparked between them fizzled out, causing a yowl to escape Maleficent as purple smog engulfed her monstrous form.

Gasping, Mal staggered backward, grateful for the hands supporting her and preventing her from hitting the ground. She blinked at the smog, and with a weak flick of her wrist, she sent it away.

In its wake, small and unmoving on one of the upturned stones of the floor, was a black and purple lizard.

"What the fuck," Mal said aloud.

Magic sizzled through the air, and a gasp echoed around the cathedral.

"Children!" Fairy Godmother called as she patted herself, perplexed yet relieved she still held her wand. "It's okay!"

"Sure it is," Jay grit out, his entire being shaking as he clutched at his wounds, missing the spikes and apparently patched up with Evie's ice.

Carlos quickly moved to his side and practically forced another of Evie's red liquid vials down his throat. The effect of the potion was visible and almost immediate, causing the ice to melt away to reveal unblemished skin, even if the pained expression didn't fully leave Jay's face.

Still, Mal was grateful Evie had the forethought for her concoctions, and she wondered how many of those particular potions Evie had thought to make.

Especially since it seemed her ice potion had run its course, leaving Evie haggard and unkempt, barely having the presence to stand upright, so much so that Carlos approached Evie to steady her.

Holding up a vial, Carlos glanced at Mal, the both of them noticing it contained only a few sips of liquid, before he guided the glass to Evie's mouth, gently bidding her to drink.

It was only when Evie finished, sighing in relief, that Mal breathed easier, and she focused on Fairy Godmother once more as they both approached the lizard with caution, the Good Fae inspecting it with an intense gaze that Mal hadn't seen on her before.

"What happened to her?" Mal asked, unnerved that the tiny creature was, in fact, her great and powerful mother.

"The fight was too much," Fairy Godmother said, glancing up at Mal. "It took its toll on all of you."

"Not really," Carlos muttered, more focused on making sure Evie stayed upright.

"Did Mal do that," Evie murmured, practically slurred, swaying dangerously until Carlos finally wrapped an arm around her waist.

Fairy Godmother stared at the lizard. "I'm not sure," she said at length. "I don't see any reason why she would voluntarily become this form."

"She can transform into more than one thing?" Mal asked, dismayed. "I thought it was just a dragon."

"I've never known her to use another form." Fairy Godmother's brow drew together. She pointed the wand to the creature.

Nothing happened.

"What are you doing?" Mal asked, suspicious and nervous all at once. She hadn't sensed anything from the wand or Maleficent in that moment.

"It seems that your magic lingers on her," Fairy Godmother answered, expression still considering. "Though, it's unclear if it's due to the battle you've fought or if you really did transform her."

"I don't know," Mal said lamely. "I just. I just wanted her to stop. I wanted us to live."

"I'm—" Jay dropped down to a knee, his whole body trembling as he tried to hold himself up, a grimace to his face.

Faint crackling happened throughout the cathedral, and Jay ground his teeth.

Alarmed, Mal rushed to his side, placing her hands on his shoulders. Evie's potion worked on his physical wounds, but it appeared it didn't alleviate the stress of Jay combating Maleficent's spell.

Mal had nearly forgotten Jay was doing it...

"Hold on, dear!" Fairy Godmother told Jay, and she turned, raising her wand high. "Bibbidi bobbidi boo!"

Noise enveloped the cathedral as stone melted away in a flash, as the statues became living once more, several people coughing and collapsing from the sudden change.

Jay gasped, nearly sinking to the floor now that he didn't have to strain with keeping Maleficent's spell at bay.

Mal squeezed his shoulders, both relieved he didn't have to fight any longer and proud that he had managed to do it at all, for as long as he had done.

Evie's intake of breath caught her attention, and Mal followed Evie's line of sight to find Ben, breathing a little heavier than usual, but he was looking at them as if they were the only people in the cathedral.

Ben smiled at them all. "I'm so glad you're all right." He took a step closer, almost like he couldn't contain himself. "You are okay, yes?" he asked, smile fading as concern bloomed across his face, his eyes taking in Jay's outfit, the hole through the chest.

Mal cleared her throat, hyper aware of the eyes on them. "We managed to live," she said, and she couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice.

"Do any of you need medical attention?" Fairy Godmother asked, stepping closer with her wand flourished.

Jay staggered back a step or two, wincing. "No offense," he began, sounding more like himself despite still being winded, "but I don't want that thing near me."

"Considering what it took to keep Maleficent from leaving with it," Carlos muttered, one hand on Evie's shoulder as the other settled on the small of her back, supporting her whenever she swayed.

Murmuring broke out at his words, which grew shocked as people surveyed the damage done to the cathedral.

Fairy Godmother blinked, and after making eye contact with Mal, she subtly waved her wand.

Mal stood straighter as she felt Fairy Godmother's magic envelop the now-a-lizard-Maleficent, and then she blinked as her mother disappeared. She stared at Fairy Godmother, who only gave her a pointed look.

"Later," she mouthed, promise in her bearing.

Ben frowned, looking between Fairy Godmother and Mal, but his gaze settled once more on Jay and Evie. "I can take you to a physician."

"Ben," Evie said with an affectionate smile, "this is your coronation. We want to see it through."

Of course she would say that, Mal thought, both amused and not, but as she looked around, she noted that no one was outright glaring at them. Though the majority of the expressions had varying stages of horror at the state of the cathedral, it seemed no one showed them any signs of ill will, including the royalty up in the balconies as well as Ben's parents.

Perhaps Mal throwing the wand to Fairy Godmother, perhaps the fact that everyone was still alive with Maleficent nowhere to be seen, made them heroes in everyone's eyes.

Mal wouldn't be able to wrap her head around the thought.

Though he looked like he wanted to protest, Ben nodded, moving by Evie's side. "May I?" He spoke to Carlos, waiting for him to nod before looking at Mal.

He knew all along, a little voice whispered to her, and Mal still had trouble processing that fact. But she trusted Ben. She nodded.

With her leave given, Ben escorted Evie to the seat Mal had previously occupied, letting her sit to catch her strength back, and Mal approved. Ben then gestured for the rest of them to join Evie and stand by her side.

Jay didn't hesitate, no doubt unwilling to leave Evie alone in her condition, for which Mal was grateful.

She had no desire to go back up on that dais. She gave a curt head shake, moving instead to the side with the other spectators, close enough to see Evie and Jay clearly, but far enough away from the limelight.

Mal wasn't surprised when Carlos joined her side.

Ben hadn't looked offended when they moved away instead of closer. In fact, he seemed to understand — and Mal realized just how much he truly did understand, now — and focused on Jay and Evie.

He leaned down to whisper something in Evie's ear, something that made Evie sag a little with relief, something that made her let out a little huff of amusement and smile. When he straightened himself, Ben moved to Jay's side, leaning in to whisper something as well, a hand on Jay's shoulder pulling him just a bit too close to Ben, but Jay had a soft smile on his face as he nodded at Ben's words.

Maybe they'll be okay, Mal thought as she hesitantly reached for Carlos' hand, shocked and grateful when he laced their fingers. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but nothing about his features gave away his thoughts.

When he was finally done conspiring with Jay and Evie, Ben gave them all a smile, and he turned to Fairy Godmother. "It's unorthodox, but we wouldn't be standing here without them. Wouldn't you agree?"

Fairy Godmother nodded, her features soft. "I dare say we wouldn't. Let us continue." She gestured for Ben to join her.

With one last look to Evie and Jay, Ben walked back to his original position, once again kneeling in front of Fairy Godmother.

As brief as it was, Mal felt Carlos squeeze her hand.

Raising her wand, Fairy Godmother began speaking, voice ringing out throughout the cathedral. "May you be granted serenity and wisdom so as to govern just and true; may your mind and heart be open so as to accept courage and love of your fellow man; may you find the strength of conviction so as to inspire strength in others; may your health never leave you so as to live your life to the fullest, for both yourself and your service. By the Star's Light, I bless thee." She brought her wand down, pointing it just above Ben's head.

Magic — the gentlest and the purest that Mal had ever sensed — settled over Ben for a brief moment, surrounding him and casting an ethereal glow about him, before subsiding.

"Rise. I present unto you all, His Majesty, Benjamin Florian de Damas, High King of the United Sovereignties of Auradon."

Ben arose to thunderous applause. He smiled first at Jay and Evie, and then he smiled at Mal and Carlos.

"He's alive," Mal said softly, unaware she said anything at all until Carlos squeezed her hand again.

"He's alive," Carlos repeated, leaning closer, letting his presence ground Mal. "And so is Evie and Jay." He squeezed her hand again. "And so are you."

Her chest tightened. "And so are you." She didn't know if her words made it over the sound of the continuous applause, but she didn't dare speak louder.

Carlos, though, understood, as he always did, and he simply pressed into her more, the both of them basking in the other's presence.

That was, until Ben moved to Jay and Evie, offering his arms to them, which they readily took, descending the dais. As they did, Ben looked toward Mal and Carlos, and with a smile, he moved his head, inviting them to join his procession out of the cathedral.

"Never pulls his punches," Carlos said with a huff, but he didn't move.

"No, he doesn't," Mal agreed, but she knew they all needed to be together to discuss the fact that Ben hadn't been spelled. So she moved, taking Carlos with her, falling in step behind Ben.

The applause never wavered, and though some people looked on curiously, it was mainly smiles and cheers directed their way as they made their way to the narthex.

Once they reached the antechamber, Mal breathed easier, until she caught sight of Fairy Godmother tucked in a corner with Jane, expression stern as she whispered to her daughter, and Mal found herself disentangling from Carlos and walking to the pair.

She was surprised Carlos let her, though was unsurprised at how he hesitated, waiting for her.

Fairy Godmother noticed her approach, glancing from Jane as Jane regarded Mal with a resigned wariness.

Despite her own defenses rising, despite the fact that Jane had apparently known they were aiming for the wand, Mal would never fault Jane for wanting to protect Ben, even if her actions caused them to fight Maleficent sooner than expected.

"About what happened," she began, feeling odd as both Fairy Godmother and Jane tensed.

"Yes, I've taken the liberty of placing your mother within a magically reinforced cage, just in case," Fairy Godmother said, quiet and quick, a nervous smile on her face. "We'll keep her under observation, don't worry, dear!"

Suspicious, Mal open her mouth, intent to ask the many questions swarming her brain, when Jane, who had remained guarded as she stared at Mal, swayed so dangerously that she nearly collapsed into her mother.

Alarmed, Mal spoke. "Are you—"

"She'll be fine after some rest," Fairy Godmother said in a rush, an arm around her daughter's waist. "It isn't an easy thing to contend with the full force of the wand." She glanced at Jane briefly before giving Mal another nervous smile. "I'll see to her rest now. Why don't you join Ben and the others and rest up yourself? We'll speak at length later."

Without letting Mal respond, Fairy Godmother rushed away, Jane almost cradled against her.

Something unpleasant settled in her gut, and Mal couldn't rid herself of the notion that something else was coming.

Still, she turned and caught sight of Carlos watching her intently, just a few spaces apart from the others by the cathedral doors as they, too, waited. Both Ben and Jay supported Evie, whose eyes were closed as she leaned into Jay.

First things first, she thought as she rejoined Carlos, letting him take her hand once more as they moved closer to the others, bracing to face the public outside.

She needed to take care of those she claimed, and then she could worry about whatever else that might come knocking.

———

The coronation was always going to be an ordeal, Ben knew, but never in his dreams could he imagine just what kind of ordeal it would become.

Never did he imagine the possibility of Maleficent showing up and nearly killing him and practically everyone he'd ever loved or known.

Forcing himself to take a calming breath, he nodded to Mal and the others. "We can head straight to the limo once these doors open. I won't be able to do anything about the press in the crowd, but once you're in the limo, you can take a breather."

"Stop worrying about us," Carlos said, surprising Ben with the fierceness of his words.

Ben was less surprised that he caught Carlos squeezing Mal's hand.

"It's your day, Ben," Evie said, eyes opening as she smiled for him even as she was unable to stand upright.

You almost died, Ben thought, but he tried his best to return her smile. "You deserve respite after what's happened."

Jay huffed, readjusting his hold on Evie. "As do you."

Refraining from once again staring at the holes in Jay's jacket and pants, Ben could only shrug.

"We'll all be together, right?" Mal asked, a glint to her eyes. "In the limo, I mean."

"Yes, we'll all be together," Ben answered, wondering if she wanted to bring up the love spell, or the lack thereof.

Mal nodded, attention turned to the doors, and the others followed suit.

Okay then, Ben thought as he nodded to the footmen, and he braced himself as cheers erupted the moment the doors opened.

The sunlight seemed much too bright, but Ben faced the crowd with the poise drilled into him since childhood. He smiled, paused for the photographers, waved to the crowd, looked the picture of newly crowned.

Thank goodness the crown was not one of the gaudy monstrosities required of a divine right ceremony. Though, it weighed on his head regardless.

Still, Ben moved down the steps fairly easily and fairly quickly, ever mindful of the others. They arrived at the limousine in no time, the attendant swiftly opening the door for them.

Ben stood still, waving to the crowd and the press one last time, subtly gesturing for the others to get inside. He hoped the majority of the spotlight would be entirely on him being newly crowned High King and not on his four companions.

Bad enough that all of them except for Carlos were dressed in now tattered clothing, but Ben had no idea how much of the situation inside the cathedral was known to the public.

"Ben..." Mal began, hesitating. She had let the others enter the vehicle first, ever the protector.

"I'm here," Ben informed her. "Whatever happens." He reached for her hand, taking it gently when she allowed it, and he helped her inside. He then gave a final wave to the crowd before ducking inside himself.

Once they were all situated, he gave a nod to the driver, and then they were driving away from the cathedral.

"Everyone sure they're okay?" Ben asked once the privacy screen was up, shielding them from the driver's eyes and ears. "Because if—"

"Yes, we'll be fine," Mal said, even as she leaned too much into Carlos. "We just need to catch our breaths."

"Some of us, anyway," Carlos said flatly, and he stared at how Evie and Jay were slumped together.

"Ha, ha," Evie murmured, eyes barely open and uncaring about the state of her appearance. "I didn't actually test out the potion beforehand. Didn't think the aftereffects would be so... exhausting." She sighed as Jay wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.

"Do I even want to know what happened?" Ben asked, both dying to know yet knowing their answer would likely give him nightmares.

He already knew that he wouldn't be able to stop imagining wounds to match the hole in the chest of Jay's jacket and the one in the left thigh of his pants, wouldn't be able to stop imagining what exactly caused the tears in Evie's dress and marks along on her skin, wouldn't be able to stop imagining why Mal's dress was so scorched and tattered.

"They fought Maleficent and lived," Carlos said, swallowing, and he looked like Ben felt. "Also Mal might have turned her into a lizard. Jury's out on that one, though."

"Fairy Godmother told me we'd talk about it later," Mal said, a frown to her lips and a crease to her brow. "But I don't think she knows any more than I do."

"Okay," Ben breathed out, unsure what to do with that information. "Okay. But if you feel like you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."

Jay and Evie smiled for him, small but soft and indulgent, even as exhaustion lingered on their skin. Carlos merely stared at him, gaze not exactly analyzing but close, though his posture relaxed with each passing moment. And Mal... Mal looked like she did when he confirmed he wasn't spelled, albeit weariness mixing with her disbelief instead of alarm.

He had said that they'd discuss it further when they were all together, but given the circumstances, given how tired they were, was now even an appropriate time?

"Ben," Mal called, pulling him from his thoughts, "you'll still stay with us?" She sat upright, no longer leaning on Carlos.

Carlos glanced between them, eyebrow quirked.

"Mal—"

"You almost died because of us," she continued, frowning at the way her voice broke. She cleared her throat, visibly steeling herself. "And we used you."

Jay and Evie tensed, their grip on each other tightening, and Carlos stilled, that not-quite-analyzing gaze locked on him.

I guess we're discussing it now, Ben thought, taking a small breath. "I already told you that you didn't," he said gently, "that the love spell had washed away, and I chose to stay of my own volition." He braced himself, anxious for the others' reactions.

Nothing happened for a few long moments.

"You knew...?" Evie whispered, awareness fully settling over her as she sat a little straighter, eyes wide.

"How long?" Jay asked before Ben could speak. His usual expressive face was blank, his gaze not quite focused on Ben.

Taking another breath, Ben said, "Since the spell was washed away by the Enchanted Lake during my first date with Mal."

The mask Jay wore cracked, and his eyes widened, shining as he stared at Ben. "The whole time?" he asked, voice quiet. "You did everything you did while knowing we tried to spell you?"

"Why didn't you turn us in?" Evie asked, horror-struck. "Why were you so..."

"Accommodating," Carlos supplied, curiosity plain on his face.

"Did you spell me to specifically hurt me?" Ben asked. When all he received were blank stares, he clarified. "Did you command me to commit a crime, or force me to do your bidding? Did you truly disregard me as a person for any reason?"

"There were moments," Mal said, her eyes shining. "You know there were moments where we could've done better, where I could have done better."

"Yeah, and there were moments where I stood my ground," Ben said, wondering if they'd accept his logic. "Look, no one is perfect. Whether we're from Auradon or the island, we're going to mess up. That's just life. For me to expect the four of you to be these perfect beings is unfair and hypocritical."

"We tried to take away your free will," Jay said, brow creased.

"And I recovered it promptly. And I, with my free will, decided to trust all of you. And though I've tried my hardest to be truthful, I've ultimately deceived you by not telling you I was free of the spell." Ben watched them stare at him, wondering how he could soothe their worries.

"Do not try to say you've wronged us," Evie said, a shine to her eyes.

Ben wasn't sure who she was upset with, him or them.

"How can a relationship be built on a lie?" Ben asked, catching the way Carlos averted his gaze. "And I lied to you."

"After we spelled you and it failed," Jay insisted, leaning forward just a little, still mindful of Evie in his arms.

"And you didn't lie," Mal continued before Ben could say anything. "You weren't lying about your feelings." Even though her words were steady, even though her features were mostly blank, Mal couldn't hide her disbelief.

"Never," Ben confirmed. "I never lied about my feelings, for any of you."

A small breath escaped her, and Mal slumped back against Carlos as she glanced at Evie and Jay.

"We never lied about our feelings either," Evie said quietly, her grip on Jay's arm tightening.

Ben smiled. "I never doubted that."

"Never?" Jay asked, voice thick, eyes searching his face.

"Never," Ben repeated, his smile softening even as his heart ached at how Jay leaned back, jaw slacked with wonder.

His phone chimed twice, breaking the tension, and he kept his face blank as he read the messages.

It seemed his time as king had officially begun.

Ben took his time answering the now steady stream of messages, knowing that some of them couldn't be put off, but more than that, he wanted to give Mal and the others a few moments to process what had been said.

They kept quiet, seemingly content to let Ben be absorbed in his phone, though he could tell they were sharing long looks with each other when they weren't spending the time staring at him.

When he felt he could take a break without too much trouble, he set his phone down, giving them his full attention once more.

They hadn't tensed, which he took as a good sign.

"Do you feel up for the ball tonight?" Ben asked them, figuring that was the next line of business to discuss. "I know we were practicing, but I don't want any of you to overexert yourselves."

"Oh my God," Evie said, quiet and dismayed. "I don't have outfits ready!"

Ben blinked. "Oh."

"That even possible?" Carlos asked.

"Hush. I have designs, of course, but I haven't actually made anything." She grew sheepish, gaze averted. "I hadn't expected to still be in Auradon after the coronation."

"Ah," Ben said lamely. He cleared his throat. "That's okay, Evie. None of you have to attend. You've been through a trying morning, and—"

"Do you have a lab of some sort?" Evie asked, perking up.

"A lab," Ben repeated, uncertain.

Evie nodded, her cheeks flushing. "That I can mix a little potion in," she explained.

He didn't know anything about what constituted as a lab space within the castle, but... "If you list the things you need, I'm sure we can come up with the ingredients somehow."

"Okay. I just need another rejuvenation hit," she said, gesturing to herself. "Then I can have Mal and Jay help with crafting the actual outfits." Her face fell. "Oh, I don't think I have enough material."

"Whatever you want, Evie," Ben promised. "All you need to do is ask."

Blushing, Evie nodded, biting her bottom lip. "Then... Can I see what you'll wear?"

"Of course," Ben said, heart fluttering at Evie's smile. "I'll have it brought over to your room, once we determine where you'll be staying."

Carlos scrunched up his nose. "Will we not be in our dorms?"

Ben blinked "Oh. Did I forget to mention? The ball takes place at Auradon Castle. That's where we're heading right now."

"All the preparation you've made us do, and you forget that little detail?" Carlos asked, though he didn't seem too troubled.

"Nobody's perfect," Ben offered, smiling when Carlos rolled his eyes and Mal huffed.

"I knew it was there, Ben," Evie assured.

"Yet you didn't share with the class," Mal said, her amusement growing when Evie blushed.

Jay snorted. "So, what's up. We're just gonna hang around till it's dance time?"

"Well," Ben began, wondering if they'd take offense, "I had hoped to pamper you all, have you rest and gather yourselves."

Mal raised an eyebrow. "With your parents there?"

"I already gave word that you're not to be disturbed," Ben said. He'd sent messages to both his parents and the staff in between answering official inquiries.

"Gave word," Mal repeated, studying him. "How polite that sounds."

Shrugging, Ben said, "As the officially crowned High King, I reminded them that the household is mine now. I also might have stated that a few hours reprieve would be the least we could give in gratitude for saving our lives."

"Well shit," Jay said.

"Although, I should have asked, did you want to stop at your dorms first?" Ben asked, scolding himself for not checking sooner. "Anything you want to get?"

"Anything of importance we took with us," Evie said, patting her bag closer to her.

"We didn't expect to be back," Jay explained. "So Evie whipped up a little spell for her bag. It can hold more than it looks now."

"Impressive," Ben said, and he meant it. He'd have to have a sit down with Evie to discuss it all, her spells and potions and all else; it fascinated him.

Carlos hummed. "You're not angry?"

"Angry?"

"That we were going to leave," he clarified, once again studying him.

"Given everything you've said in the cathedral, no," Ben answered, and though it was another case of him being unable to stop replaying their words, being unable to get their expressions out of his mind, he understood why they felt it was their only course of action. "I would have been sad. Worried and a nervous wreck, definitely," he continued, nervous in his honesty, "but, ultimately, you had to do what you felt was needed."

He couldn't fault them for that, even if it was just another thing to add to his nightmares.

"Murder," Mal said, expression unreadable. "Murder is what we felt was needed. Would you have been okay with that?"

Ben hesitated, knowing that if he chose the wrong words, the conversation would turn into a disaster, and he'd prefer if no more disasters occurred today. So he spoke slowly, but with no less truth than he had been using. "Self-defense can sometimes require extraordinary measures be taken, and it would be wrong of me to fault you any action that resulted from your protecting yourselves."

Silence followed his words as they stared at him.

"I didn't expect that from you," Carlos said at length. "Though, I think self-defense is a generous term."

"If you want to call it murder, fine. I know several murderers then. Very well, even, having dined with them on several occasions." In another circumstance, the way they blinked at him might have amused him. For now, he could only shrug. "Circumstance plays a big key, I think."

Carlos said nothing further, only giving him a small nod, and he glanced at Mal.

Mal swallowed, and she nodded as well. "It's done now," she said, her eyes searching his face. "Right?"

"Are you asking me?" Ben asked, unsure of her meaning. He didn't have a say in how they should handle their affairs.

"I mean." She paused, nose scrunching for a moment before she let out a breath. "Now that Maleficent is a lizard, Fairy Godmother isn't going to talk to their parents, right?" Mal's eyes gleamed as she studied him. "We'll no longer have any contact with them?"

Ah, I see, he thought, wondering if now would be a good time to come clean about another matter. "I'd imagine so," he said slowly, watching Mal's face, "considering I had already given that order near a week ago."

Mal blinked. "Righteous fury is a you thing, then."

Carlos snorted, and both Evie and Jay sighed.

Ben, though, smiled. "It happens, on occasion."

The corner of her mouth twitching upward, Mal nodded. "Let's try to keep the occasions few and far between."

Ben chuckled. "Of course."

Mal smiled, and she settled back, her smile turning soft when Carlos grabbed her hand, he himself slouching against the seat cushion, his gaze no longer analyzing. Instead, he merely looked at Evie and Jay, a softness to his features Ben had rarely witnessed.

Jay's gaze was focused on Evie, the both of them resting against each other, bearing peaceful as Evie all but cuddled close. Jay's expression could only be described as fond, his arms acting as a blanket for Evie.

Maybe they'll be okay, Ben thought, surveying them all with warmth. Maybe we can make it work, he thought, a kind of giddiness creeping up on him.

Maybe the future wouldn't be too daunting.

———

Though it wasn't his habit, Jay needed a drink.

Whether of booze or Evie's special potion, though, he wasn't quite sure.

Fighting Maleficent, surviving Maleficent, and finding out Ben hadn't been spelled yet still cared for them had exhausted every fiber of his being, and the day was barely halfway done. Perhaps resting at Auradon Castle would calm him and ease his nerves, but Jay wasn't too sure.

Jay probably wouldn't settle until Evie was well, until the coronation ball was over.

Because, then, Jay would actually be allowed to settle. He would be allowed to stay, to stay with those he claimed and to stay with Ben.

Because Ben had been himself the past month.

Jay couldn't believe it. He didn't know if he'd ever believe it.

Though, when Ben looked at him, nothing but softness in his features...

Jay suppressed a shiver, grateful for Evie's presence against him, grounding him in a way he'd never be able to if he was on his own.

The limo pulled into the castle's gate, and the lazy atmosphere in the compartment melted away.

Ben looked up from his phone, first peering out the window before turning to them. "Do you want to stay in separate rooms?" he asked, pocketing his phone and scooting to the edge of his seat.

Jay glanced at the others, letting them decide. If he had it his way, they would all be in the same room, sharing the same bed, and not moving for at least two days.

But this wasn't Carlos' treehouse, this wasn't their dormitories, this was Auradon Castle, where there were plenty of staff snooping about, where there would be hundreds of people gathered later tonight for Ben's coronation ball.

The five of them sharing a room would definitely be castle gossip.

So Jay waited for Mal to speak, to give her instruction.

She took her time, staring off into the distance. When she finally turned to Ben, she asked, "Do you have any connecting rooms?"

"We do," he answered. "My parents have the main set, but there is another. Only two bedrooms that are connected, though."

"That's fine," Mal said, sitting straighter as the limo came to a stop. "We'll probably just stay in one of them anyway."

Nodding in understanding, Ben said, "Okay, then follow me." He moved, opening the door and stepping out in a fluid motion.

Evie squeezed his arm.

"I got you," he whispered to her, supporting her as they exited, and he held her close as she drew in a sharp breath as she took in the sight of the castle.

After the ball, maybe Jay could give her the sleepover she always wanted. He was sure Ben wouldn't object, either.

"Where's the staff?" Mal asked, looking around.

"I said you weren't to be disturbed," Ben reminded them, a little smile on his face. "Though, they're probably sneaking a peek at you from the windows or some such. Come on, let's make it harder for them."

Carlos snorted, but he followed Ben easily, arm still linked with Mal's.

Idly, Jay wondered if she was truly recovered, if she was putting on a front to save face or to soothe their worry. He knew Evie would have done the same, but she was physically incapable.

He didn't mind supporting her, didn't mind practically carrying her through the castle corridors, seeing as without her, he probably wouldn't be alive. Still, the fact that she was so helpless right now disturbed him, reminded him just how close they all came.

Don't think about it, he thought, scolding himself, and he focused on getting her to their destination.

"Here we are," Ben announced after turning yet another corner, making his way to a set of double doors. He opened one, holding it for them to file in before closing it again.

Carlos whistled.

The room was grand, grander than their dorm rooms, the bed big enough to get lost in, and it was all too clean and bright with the distinct feeling that no one's been in it unless it was to clean up non-existent messes.

Ben moved to yet another set of double doors. "And this leads to the sitting room that connects the two bedrooms," he said, opening one of the doors but not leaving. "The other bedroom is identical to this one."

"The footmen?" Jay asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Dismissed. I want you to feel comfortable here."

"And how long are we here?" Carlos asked, still glancing around.

"As long as you like. Tonight only, the weekend, longer. It's up to you." Ben's smile was a hopeful little thing.

"And this'll be our rooms whenever we come here?" Carlos asked.

Puzzled, Ben nodded. "Yes, unless you want to move around."

"Here's good," Mal said before Carlos could answer, but he nodded in agreement.

"You want this room or the other one?" Carlos asked her instead.

"You can take this one," Mal answered with a shrug.

"Then let me escort you to your room," Ben said, offering his arm to Evie.

Jay glanced at her, unsure of letting her go, but she gave him a light pat.

She took Ben's hand with a smile, but her weariness was starting to show as she moved from Jay to Ben's side.

"If you need anything, tell me, and I'll have it brought up immediately," Ben said, supporting her fully.

"You're sweet," Evie murmured, squeezing his hand. She took another step, only for her to falter.

"Evie," Ben said in alarm as he, apparently unthinkingly, like it was the most normal thing in his world, scooped up Evie in his arms so that she wouldn't fall, an arm under her knees and an arm supporting her lower back.

Jay felt his chest warm.

A little surprised "oh!" escaped from Evie's mouth, but she leaned against Ben with a sigh, either content as is or too exhausted to wrap her arms around Ben's neck.

Either way, Jay knew exactly how she felt.

As Ben carried her into the sitting room, Jay glanced at Mal and Carlos.

Mal waved him away as she inspected the room more closely, and Carlos gave him a pointed stare before glancing at Mal, gently shooing him away.

Nodding, and silently wishing Carlos luck, Jay left them to it, letting Mal sweep the room for anything intrusive and letting Carlos calm Mal before she faced either Ben or Evie again.

He quickly made his way through the sitting room, itself more spacious than their dorm room, not bothering to close either door as he entered the second bedroom, focusing on Evie and Ben.

Jay watched Ben settle Evie down on the bed, watched as he got Evie some paper and a pen so she could jot down the things she needed for both her potions and their outfits. He watched as Ben kissed her forehead, promising to send over his outfit for the ball as soon as possible.

Ben nodded to them, and then he left.

Jay felt his chest tighten, even though he knew that Ben wouldn't be going anywhere far.

"Are you really okay?" Jay asked her, moving to her and sitting on the edge of the bed.

She smiled for him, taking his hand in hers and bringing it up to her face, nuzzling. "I'm as okay as I can be, considering everything. But I'll be back up to snuff in no time."

"Mentally," Jay said, heart breaking when Evie paused, blinking at him. "I meant, are you okay mentally?"

"I don't know, Jay," Evie said, a slight waver to her voice, even as she gave him a small smile. "I watched Ben be encased in stone. I watched you be impaled, twice. I watched Mal take on her mother, I watched Carlos get too close." She shuddered. "Do you know how many times my heart stopped?"

"No," Jay said, unable to be anything but honest with her. "I barely had the presence of mind to keep any eyes on you, on Mal and Carlos. It took everything I had not to pass out from the pain I was in."

Evie shuddered again, a shaky sigh escaping her. "God, Jay... When I saw you hanging up there like that. I couldn't think straight. I only thought of getting to you, of getting you down and getting you better." Her eyes burned fiercely as she looked at him. "But, Jay, Jay. How powerful you were."

A shiver overtook him, and he shook his head. "Don't," he said softly. "I don't wanna think about it."

"You saved those people, Jay. You saved Ben." Evie squeezed his hand, a tear or two trickling from her eyes. "You were amazing. You certainly gave me strength."

"No, I made you reckless," Jay countered weakly.

"I've always been reckless," she said, a secretive smile on her lips. "I've been reckless since I first sat down next to Carlos."

Unable to help himself, Jay snorted. That seemed so long ago now. A lifetime ago, even.

"You did give me strength, no matter what you think," she said again, voice shaking. "And I'm glad I was able to return the favor."

"Yeah," Jay breathed out, "if it hadn't been for you, I'd be dead right now. You're my savior, Evie. You're the only princess I'd bow to."

Evie closed her eyes, her tears flowing more freely now, and she turned his hand so that she could kiss his palm, nuzzling it some more. "I love you, Jay," she murmured into his skin, a spell, a prayer.

Heart fluttering, he leaned in, gentle as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, vowing to never let her get so close to death again. "Evie, I—"

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to," Evie said into his chest. "It won't change my feelings."

"But I want to say it," he said, adamant and fierce. "If there's anyone I want to say it to, it's you." He pulled back some, just enough so that he could frame her face with his hands, and he simply took in her beauty. "Because I do love you, Evie."

He loved her more than he could ever say.

He loved her like he loved Mal, like he loved Carlos. Like he loved Ben.

As if she knew his thoughts, Evie smiled, tears forming in her eyes. She leaned in to kiss his cheek before leaning into him fully, her arms settling around him.

He let her stay like that, held her close and secure, hoping that she was resting well. He glanced at the door to the sitting room, unable to hear anything on the other side but hoping Mal and Carlos were resting well enough, too.

A knock at the door startled him, but he relaxed once Ben entered the room. Though, he blinked when he noticed that Ben carried a serving tray with two covered dishes in one hand and a garment bag in the other.

"Ben, you don't have to knock," Evie said, her tone fond. "It's actually preferable that you don't."

Ben blinked. "Oh, but I wouldn't want to intrude or startle any of you," he said as he placed the tray on the bed next to them before moving to one of the wardrobes.

"The doors are spelled," Jay said, watching curiously as Ben set up the garment bag on the wardrobe door. "You're the only one who'd be allowed in without knocking anyway."

"Ah, well. Now I know that." He smiled as he moved back to the bed. "Your ingredients should be here momentarily, but I figured something to nibble on wouldn't hurt either." He picked up one of the covered dishes. "I'll take this one to Mal and Carlos."

Jay had been watching Evie remove the dish cover to reveal assorted fruits and finger foods, preoccupied by her delight, before Ben's words registered, and by then, Ben had just entered the sitting room.

"Be right back," he said, delivering a quick kiss to the top of Evie's head before he rushed to follow Ben.

Evie only hummed in reply.

"Ben," Jay called softly, grateful that the sitting room was as spacious as it was; he didn't have to rush too much to catch up to him.

Ben stopped in the middle of the room and turned, head tilted in curiosity.

Jay couldn't help but smile. "Let me bring it to them," he said, already moving to get the plate out of Ben's hands.

Ben's brow drew together. "Is everything—"

"Yes," Jay said, tone softer, mindful of how close to the door they were. "They're just... cooling down, I guess? They don't want you or Evie to see them until they're back to their usual selves."

It felt a little weird, to reveal Mal's inner workings so openly, but Jay knew Ben would understand, that he'd understand more than anyone else in Auradon.

Proving his point, Ben nodded, letting go of the plate easily. "Okay. I'll wait here then."

Giving him a smile, Jay walked into the bedroom, careful to leave the door ajar, blocking any attempt to peer inside — not that Ben would, it was more for the benefit of Carlos and Mal's nerves.

He found them on the bed, Carlos lying flat on his back with Mal curled up beside him, practically on top of him, her head on his chest and her arm around his waist; Carlos had one arm wrapped around her, his free hand in her hair.

They were both in different clothes, probably Mal's doing, as Evie still had her bag on her with all of their belongings inside.

Carlos looked at him, eyebrow quirked a fraction. Mal just stared.

With measured movements, Jay placed the covered dish on the bed, not quite on the edge in fear it would fall off, but far enough away from them if they wanted to ignore it. "From Ben, for energy, if you want it," was all he said, relieved when they both nodded.

He wasn't surprised when neither of them moved right away.

So he gave them a small nod and a little smile before he left them again, knowing the relative solitude would be more restful for them; he still left the door ajar.

Back in the sitting room, he found Ben waiting where he left him. Jay almost said something about Ben being still as a statue, but the words died in his throat, the cathedral flashing in his mind. He swallowed.

He's fine, he's fine, Jay thought as he moved a little closer, trying to smile.

Ben, though, just stared at him.

"What," Jay said, self-conscious.

Giving himself a little shake, Ben stepped closer. "Sorry," he said softly, "but I can't stop picturing it."

Confused, Jay said, "Picturing what?"

"Picturing you with a wound to match that hole," Ben said, gesturing to his jacket. "Or that one," he added, glancing down at Jay's thigh, expression pained.

Chest tightening, Jay shook his head. "It's fine now."

A huff escaped Ben's lips, expression incredulous. "Jay, you almost — you could have—" He sucked in a breath, stricken.

"Hey, hey," Jay said, panic rising at Ben's expression, "it's all fine now, okay?"

Ben pulled him into an embrace, wrapping Jay securely, firmly in his arms.

Dumbstruck, Jay returned the hug on autopilot. "Ben?" he prompted, but the only answer he received was the tightening of Ben's arms. "Ben," Jay tried again, speaking softly, giving Ben a squeeze of his own.

Letting out a big sigh, Ben pulled away, but just enough to look Jay in the face. "God," he murmured, caressing Jay's cheek. "I could have lost you." His brow creased as he closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Jay's. "I could have lost all of you."

"You didn't," Jay said quietly. "We're here. You have us. We made it."

He didn't voice how close it was, how he had felt his very life energy seeping out of his body even as he forced all his will into keeping Maleficent's spell at bay, keeping Ben alive as death came for them both.

A shudder overtook him at the memory, and he reached up to gently frame Ben's face in his hands. Waiting until Ben opened his eyes, Jay said, "I almost lost you." He watched Ben blink, felt Ben's hands reach up to encircle his wrists, his thumbs smoothing Jay's skin in attempt to comfort. "You were being encased in a stone tomb, Ben. I felt you slipping away with each passing second. I would've gladly taken more wounds to prolong your death."

"No," Ben said, tone and grip on Jay's wrists fierce. "Your well-being, your life should never take a backseat to mine!"

Jay tried to smile, letting his hands fall as he stepped away. "A king's life—"

"A king can be replaced," Ben cut in, fierceness still in his tone, in his eyes. He held Jay's hands, keeping him from retreating entirely. "You can't be."

"A king can, but what about you?" Jay asked, keeping his voice steady. "No one could ever replace you, Ben. Don't be upset anymore."

Even though he wouldn't know what to do if Ben was gone from his life, Jay couldn't say the same words he spoke to Evie, his nerves buzzing too much, too afraid that this might be a dream after all, that they had failed and this was just to torture Jay before death took him.

Ben breathed in deeply through his nose. "It's only natural to be upset when the person you love is in danger," he said, but that fierceness was no longer in his voice.

Still, Jay froze.

Ben stared into his eyes, and his hands squeezed Jay's. "I love you, Jay," he said, as if he knew Jay's doubts, and he pulled him closer. "Please don't doubt my love for the four of you."

A breath, shuddering and abrupt, escaped Jay. How are you real, he thought as he leaned into Ben, resting his forehead on Ben's shoulder. He took a deep breath. "I love you," he admitted quietly, bracing himself for the world to come crashing down.

Except it never did.

Instead, Ben wrapped his arms around him and pulled Jay close.

Nearly overcome, Jay held on to Ben, probably too tight for comfort, but he couldn't help himself. How am I allowed to keep you, too, he thought, letting himself get lost in Ben's presence, in his warmth.

Maybe we'll all be okay, he thought, easing his hold, the future not quite so uncertain anymore.

Ben sighed, his grip in Jay's jacket tightening for a moment before relaxing, and he slowly moved away from Jay. "I should let you rest, too." Even as he said it, he still hadn't completely removed his hand from Jay.

"We'll be fine," Jay said, and this time, he meant it. "We'll take it easy before the ball."

"I have half a mind to just cancel it," Ben confessed.

"Don't do that," Jay said, knowing that, if given even the smallest hint of approval, Ben really would cancel it for them. "All that pomp will lift Evie's spirits even higher."

A huff escaped Ben, and he shook his head, an amused little smile resting in the corner of his lips. "I won't deny I've been looking forward to dancing with you two."

"We tried not to think about it," Jay said, unashamed as he brought Ben's hand to his lips. He kissed each knuckle. "But now, we can."

The smile that settled on Ben's lips was small, bordering on sad. Keeping their hands clasped, he moved, guiding Jay back to Evie's bedroom.

Instead of being in bed, Evie sat at the sole table in the room, various things splay out before her as she ground something down into a bowl.

"Hey," Jay said, moving to stand behind her chair, "why didn't you call for me?"

Evie huffed. "I'm perfectly capable of brewing a potion by myself." She giggled. "Though, it was a little funny watching the footman figure out where to put everything."

Jay rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop smiling, especially when he took in Ben's own.

"I guess I'll leave you to it," Ben said, moving to the nightstand with a phone. He wrote something down on the little pad of paper next to it. "If you need anything, call this number. The fabric rolls are on the way, but if anything else comes up—"

"We understand, Ben," Evie said, holding out her hand.

Without hesitation, Ben moved to her, taking her hand in his, squeezing it. "I'm just saying," he said with a smile, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "And though potions might be well and good, I hope you both actually rest for a few moments."

"We will," Jay said, smiling when Ben leaned in to kiss his cheek as well. "But only if you rest, too."

Chuckling, Ben nodded. "I have to answer a few more emails, and then I'm taking a nap."

Yeah, a nap sounds fantastic, Jay thought, waving as Ben moved to the door.

"I'll have a decent meal sent to you soon, and I'll be back later for my outfit."

"Until then, Ben," Evie called, blowing him a kiss.

Ben caught it and brought it to his heart, inclining his head. Then he was out the door.

"I love him," Evie said on a dreamy sigh, staring at the door for a few moments.

"Yeah," Jay agreed, marveling at how easy she said it aloud, at how easy it was to agree with her.

But, then again, Evie was magical like that.

"I'll be finished with these soon, and then we can start on our outfits." She nodded to the wardrobe, to where the garment bag was, before focusing back on brewing. "I want us to match his."

"All of us?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking at some fruit Evie had left.

"At least you and me," Evie answered. "When Mal and Carlos are more themselves, I'll get their opinion."

Jay didn't bother hiding his smile. Of course Evie knew what they were doing.

As he watched her work, once again awed by how natural she looked, how effortless she made it all seem, Jay relaxed, affection for her, for the others, swirling inside him.

He found himself truly looking forward to the ball.

He was looking forward to being together, all of them.

Maybe they would be okay.

———

Putting away old habits, Ben walked into Evie and Mal's assigned room without knocking. It had been a couple of hours since Ben had ensured a proper meal was sent to their rooms, and he just wanted to check to see if everything was going well, if they needed anything else.

There were fabric rolls everywhere but not a person in sight, nor any sign of finished outfits. Idly, he wondered if Evie needed more time, if maybe he should consider delaying the ball.

Never mind that the festivities began in an hour.

"Hello?" he called out, wondering if they were hiding in plain sight or just in the boy's room.

"Ben?" Evie called from the bathroom.

"Hey, I just wanted to check on how everythi—" Ben stopped speaking, abruptly turning his back on Evie to give her privacy.

She had appeared from the bathroom in nothing but a black, three-piece lingerie set.

A hand at his shoulder made him glance behind him.

Evie's smile greeted him. "Sorry," she said, apologetic but amused. "I've got a robe on now, no worries."

"I just... didn't want to intrude," he finished lamely, noting that she was indeed wearing a robe.

Evie laughed. "Ben, you couldn't intrude if you tried. But thank you." She kissed his cheek.

He smiled, unable to resist. Evie just made it so easy to smile. "I still caught you during a bad time."

"Nonsense," she said, waving the notion away. "I'm just beginning to get ready for your coronation ball."

Ben stared at her.

She no longer looked so worn down, her smile and eyes bright as she looked at him, fondness in her features. Truly, she was magical.

Unable to help himself, he reached up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing against her skin. In wonder, he watched as she leaned into the touch. "You're amazing," he said.

She smiled wide. "You came here just to say that?"

"No, but it needed to be said," he said simply.

She tilted her head, looking at him, curious.

"Thank you," he said, overwhelmed with emotion, "for choosing me."

A blush dusted her cheeks, her smile radiant. "Shouldn't that be my line?"

"No," he said, more adamant than he realized. "It will always be mine."

"Ben," she began, but no other words left her mouth. Instead, she leaned in to kiss him, a simple and chaste kiss, lingering only slightly. "I love you."

Heart fluttering, Ben kissed her again. "And I love you, Evie."

Even though she said the words first, she stared at him in wonder.

"Being indecent, are we?" Mal asked as she walked into the room, startling them both.

"Who is?" Evie asked, flustered. She didn't move away from Ben, though.

"No chaperone in sight, how scandalous," Mal said, feigning shock.

Ben laughed. "How very remiss of me," he said, smiling when Evie shook her head with a smile. "I shall offer a dance at the ball to make up for such an offense."

Letting out an amused huff, Mal said, "Well, in that case, be as indecent as you wish." She gave them an exaggerated curtsy before disappearing into the bathroom.

"I guess that's my cue to get ready," Ben said, unable to rein in his smile.

"I guess it is," Evie agreed, and she walked over to the clothing rack tucked in the corner of the room. She removed one of the garment bags, bringing it over to Ben. "Here you are, good sir, and thank you most kindly for letting me take a peek."

"You are most kindly welcome," Ben said. He leaned in, whispering. "Will I like the results?"

Eyes gleaming, Evie grinned. "I hope so, but you'll just have to wait and see."

"Not if I come see you all before the ball," Ben countered, grinning when Evie laughed.

"Whatever you wish, good sir." She curtsied.

"See you soon," Ben said as he moved to the door.

"See you, Ben," came Evie's reply, and her smile was the last thing he saw before shutting the door.

His grip on the garment bag tightening, Ben quickly walked to his room, growing more giddy by the second.

—

It didn't take long for him to dress and ready himself for the ball, even with the medals his attendants insisted on and cording work that went into his jacket. The only thing he had to wait on was for the crown to be delivered to him.

The crown, more of a circlet or coronet due to its size and weight, was more to his liking than the one he wore for the coronation. It was silver and platinum, featuring festoon and trefoil ornaments set atop an intricate base of diamonds, separated with sapphires in cushion and kite cuts.

It was light, didn't restrict his movement, and did not draw too much attention, and so Ben didn't mind waiting.

Once it had arrived, his outfit was deemed complete, and he refrained from sighing, as he felt more formal in this getup than he had for any other event he had attended, and perhaps a bit more somber as well.

The frock coat he wore was black and double-breasted, the gold buttons almost passing for a military style jacket. The coat's wide cuffs and collar matched in deep blue velvet, which in turn matched the blue of his slacks. His right shoulder donned an epaulet with heavy gold cording, and yet another gold cord wrapped around his waist over a wide gold and red fabric belt.

Formal as it was, he could still move fine, and so he made his way to Mal and the others, taking an attendant with him with the instructions that he was to wait at the end of the hallway for them to emerge from their rooms, so that he could lead them to the ballroom.

Ben once again entered Mal and Evie's room with out knocking, and he was immediately greeted with a lovely sight.

Jay stood there, wearing a black, scoop necked tunic with three-quarter length sleeves. It fell to his mid calf, with slits traveling up to his waist on both sides. The bodice was heavily embroidered with silver designs set in four rows across its front. The elbows of the sleeves and the outline of the front and back panels of the tunic's skirt were colored blue, with the matching embroidered silver designs running on top. He wore fitted, ankle length, blue pants under the tunic. Half of Jay's hair was pulled back lightly and braided while the rest of his hair remained loose. He wore the sapphire and diamond necklace Ben had gifted him.

Next to him, Evie wore a simple black dress, close fitted to her body, strapless and thigh length. She also wore a heavily silver embroidered sheer overdress, sleeveless with a halter neckline, also close fitting, with a mermaid style skirt. A silver jeweled belt wrapped around her waist, and it held up a floor length, open-front black overskirt, the material shimmering in the light and billowing when she moved. Her hair was styled in a crown braid, strands pulled out to frame her face, and she wore the tiara Ben had gifted her.

They smiled for him as Evie curtsied and Jay bowed.

"You both look amazing," Ben said when he found his breath.

"As do you," Evie said, her cheeks flushing. "I hope you don't mind us dressing to match you."

"Not at all," Ben assured, still struck by their beauty. "I'm honored. You're both beautiful."

Jay's cheeks darkened, but the smile he gave Ben was bright and sincere.

"Will the others be dressed to match as well?" Ben asked.

"Yes, and no," came Mal's voice.

Ben turned as Mal and Carlos entered the room.

Mal wore a chocolate brown suit jacket, single button and peplum style, with sharp shoulder pads and a double notch lapel. Layered under the jacket was a white button-down shirt, a neat rose gold tie, and a floor length satin open-front overskirt, which was a lighter shade of brown. Her close-fitting satin, dark brown pants stopped just above the ankle, allowing her gold wedge sandals to be seen without issue. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun at the base of her skull, with strands left out to frame her face.

Carlos donned a chocolate brown tuxedo with a single notch lapel, which was an even darker shade of brown. The jacket was worn open over a white button-down shirt, and the jacket as well as the pants were entirely covered in velvet floral embroidery, the designs a lighter shade of brown. He also had a rose gold tie, but it was much too relaxed, almost like he didn't really bother tying it at all. His hands donned rose gold lace gloves. His white curls were combed forward and to the side, revealing more of his roots.

"We're dressed to match each other," Mal said, gesturing between herself and Carlos.

"Figured we'd branch out," Carlos said, smirking. "Also, it leaves you three in the limelight, and that's fine with us."

Jay snickered while Evie shook her head, fondly exasperated.

Ben couldn't help but laugh, heart full. "You all look wonderful!"

"Evie would have nothing less for this ball of yours," Mal said, smiling when Evie blushed and fidgeted.

"I will be the envy of many," Ben promised, and if he were being a little boastful, well. No one had to know.

But really, how could he not want to show off his dates when they looked like that?

Both Mal and Carlos snorted, but he didn't know if it were because they didn't believe him, or if it were because his words made Jay's and Evie's blushes deepen.

Jay cleared his throat. "Isn't it almost time?" he asked, his hand picking at his necklace.

"Nearly," Ben said, glancing at the clock. "I have to arrive last, so I can't escort you, but I have an attendant down the hall who can lead you to the ballroom."

"Okay," Mal said, and she moved to him, reaching up to cup his cheek. "See you out there," she said as she leaned in to give him a chaste kiss on the lips.

Ben smiled.

Evie moved to him next, kissing him a tad longer but no less chaste. She gave him a wink as she moved to Mal.

Jay came forward next, and while his kiss was just a touch hesitant, it did linger. He smiled when they parted.

Carlos, unsurprisingly, moved last, but what was surprising was the fact that he, too, leaned up to give Ben a chaste kiss.

Ben felt dizzy with affection while Carlos joined the others.

"I'll see you soon," Ben said, something akin to giddiness practically overtook him, counting down to the moments until he got to dance with Jay and Evie.

They all nodded, giving him little waves, and then they were gone.

Feeling like he could run a marathon, Ben forced himself to count to fifty before he ventured out himself.

—

After letting himself be photographed and announced, Ben walked into the ballroom, keeping his chin high, shoulders straight and back, his gait steady. He walked with purpose, just like how he was taught from a young age, like he had been trained all his life.

The nausea he usually felt didn't consume him, even with all the faces of every major player of every kingdom under Auradon's banner staring at him, watching him move to the center of the ballroom. No, instead of dread, of nerves that he'd screw something up, he felt calm, felt eager.

And it wasn't just because he saw Jay waiting for him at the other end of the room.

Tonight, for the first time in his life, he could truly do what he wanted, he could behave how he saw fit, he could have an actual say in his life.

Despite the fact that he now officially wore the crown, despite the fact that everyone now recognized him as High King, tonight was the first night of his freedom.

Walking up to Jay and inviting him to share the moment with Ben was simply a wonderful bonus.

It would be a lie if Ben said he didn't see the curious glances sent both his way and Jay's, but Ben paid no mind. He wouldn't let anything hinder the warmth he felt toward Jay, toward them all.

Jay looked too beautiful, too shy, for Ben to feel anything but warmth and happiness.

With a small, nervous swallow, Jay took a step forward, his eyes glued to Ben's, and Ben could only smile.

Thank you for doing this, Ben thought as he offered his hand, unreasonably delighted when Jay took it, squeezing his hand slightly.

He knew they had practiced for this dance, but Ben also knew that Jay and the others thought they wouldn't actually be present for it. To have Jay go through with it, to have him face all the royalty and nobility of Auradon with such confidence... Ben could only marvel.

"You sure this is wise?" Jay asked, barely above a murmur, as they took their place in the middle of the room.

Ben felt his features soften, knew the question wasn't about Jay's nerves but about Jay's worry for Ben and his reputation. He gently maneuvered them into waltz position. "I was always sure about you," he said as the music began.

Jay smiled, soft but brilliant, and he let Ben move him.

It was better than the Halloween Ball.

Moving across the floor with Jay now felt as if they had been doing it for years, as if they were meant to be each other's partner. Jay was more surefooted, never once looking down at his feet, all of his focus on Ben's face.

His eyes might have dipped to Ben's lips, though, once or twice.

And it took everything Ben had not to give into those looks.

Instead he merely lost himself in Jay, letting the music and those watching fade to the back of his senses. And how easy it was to get lost in Jay's dark bright eyes, in Jay's soft smile, in the gentle caress of Jay's hands.

He had dreamed about dancing with Jay like this, openly, with all his feelings laid bare, for all the world to see. He never expected the real thing to be so much better than what occurred in his head.

The music slowed, a fact he only knew because Jay sighed, and Ben couldn't help but feel the same. The smile on Jay's face was too enticing, and all Ben could think was that it was so different from the exhaustion on him mere hours ago, from the battle worn clothes he adorned.

Jay was so exuberant now, so full of life, so beautiful, and he was smiling at Ben without worry or care for the judgment of others.

Ben couldn't help himself.

He leaned in, awed that Jay allowed him, and he shared a kiss with Jay, gentle and chaste but lingering. When they parted, he rested his forehead against Jay's and simply took in Jay's presence.

"You're something else, Ben," Jay whispered to him, fondness laced in his voice.

Ben huffed, possibly in embarrassment but definitely in amusement. "I've been called worse," he said, and he began leading Jay back to the others.

Jay grinned, squeezing his hand. "Well, yes, you're weird, too."

And Ben did laugh at that. "Good sir, I return you to your company."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." That soft grin still graced his lips. "May I offer my date's hand?" he asked, gesturing to Evie.

Evie, brilliant and beautiful Evie, blushed at Jay's words, as if she had no idea he would do such a thing, as if she hadn't rehearsed a dance with Ben herself.

Not that he could fault her for it, considering Ben's own heart was fluttering. "I would be delighted and honored," Ben said, offering his hand.

"As would I," Evie murmured as she curtsied, taking Ben's hand as she rose.

They made their way to the center of the room, though this time, other couples joined them.

Ben didn't pay them any mind, though, as nothing could distract his attention away from Evie, from the way she looked at him through her lashes, from the way she wore the tiara he gave her.

She had taken it with her, he realized, belatedly; she had taken it with her even though they were planning on running, even though they were unsure if they would return.

Both she and Jay kept Ben's gifts.

His heart skipped a beat as they assumed their starting position.

The music started, and Ben moved, grateful for the distraction as his emotions were about to get the best of him.

He danced with her, delighted in every smile she gave him, in every touch they shared, and he found himself picturing her in his future once more, of bringing her back to this castle for the holidays or her birthday, letting his mother dote and gossip with her as he watched enamored.

Back during Family Day, he was so uncertain of things, of how she really felt about him, of his own feelings, of the future — if they even had a future. But now, now he could see it more clearly, now it wasn't only a dream but had the makings to become reality.

And how he wished, how he wished he could be with her, with Jay, with them all, in the future. He wanted to be by their sides for as long as it could be possible.

He wanted to know more about her, her interests, her magic, her wishes, and he wanted to tell her all of his, wanted to share affection openly, without her having to doubt them because of some spell.

He wanted them to share a life together, Evie, Jay, all of them.

The music slowed, and he only realized it when the makings of a pout appeared on Evie's lips, though she held back once she caught herself. She curtsied again, but as she rose, Ben brought her close.

He could no longer control himself, it seemed.

They shared a kiss that was equally gentle and chaste and just as lingering as the one he had shared with Jay. And just like with Jay, when they parted, he had to steady himself, grateful that she let him rest their foreheads against each other.

He doubted he could be any happier than he had been right that second.

"How are you so wonderful," Evie murmured, her hands squeezing Ben's. When they separated properly, the fondness in her smile nearly melted Ben.

"You accept me for myself," Ben answered her simply, his thumb smoothing her skin as he led her back to the group.

"That should be my line," Evie said, a tad teasing but no less sincere.

"We can share it," Ben said, letting her return to the others. "Thank you for the dance, Your Serene Highness."

Evie flushed, her eyes shining to match the brilliance of her smile. "The pleasure was entirely my own, Your Majesty."

Ben's smile was sure to match hers. He glanced at Mal and Carlos, trying not to laugh at how their fondness faded a little into suspicion now that his eyes were on them. "Don't worry, I won't ask either of you unless you actually want me to. I'm just glad you're both here with us."

Mal nodded, the relief plain on her face. "Wouldn't miss their dances. They had been practicing, after all."

"Though, I think those kisses caused quite the stir," Carlos said, eyebrow raised.

Both Jay and Evie flushed.

"I couldn't help myself," Ben said, keeping his expression pleasant for the people he knew were watching. "Though, if I made you uncomfortable..."

"Never," Jay said the same time as Evie said, "Quite the opposite."

Relieved beyond measure, Ben nodded. "I'm glad. I don't want to hide my feelings for you."

"Oh, Ben," Evie sighed. "I wish you wouldn't say such things. How am I supposed to continue acting with propriety?"

"I think you'll manage," Ben said, amused.

"At least until you dance with someone else," Jay said, unashamed.

Intrigued, Ben asked, "Oh really?"

"Depending on how the dances go, yeah," Jay said with a half-hearted shrug.

It confused Ben. "I wouldn't kiss anyone else." He had thought they trusted him more than that.

"We know that," Mal said, tone clearly stating the unvoiced duh. She raised her eyebrow. "He meant how others treat you."

Ben blinked, taking in Mal's words, taking in the unashamed looks of all four of them. Wait, are they saying they'd be jealous, he thought, incredulous; there's no way...

A polite cough caught his attention, and he turned to the noise. Upon seeing the cause, he instantly smiled. "Kyan."

Kyan, dressed in such formality that Ben wondered how he was able to move, bowed low. "Your Majesty," he said when he righted himself, his formality unable to hide the fondness in his features. "My sister sends me in her stead to ask for your next dance, and I must admit, I hope you will accept."

"Of course, noble prince, I'd be delighted to accept a dance with you," he said, offering his hand, smiling when Kyan took it.

After nodding to Mal and the others, Ben led Kyan onto the floor, but a thought occurred to him. "Do you want to lead?"

"No, Ben, it's your day, you can lead." He smiled, amused as they assumed starting position. "If it presses you, I can lead if we dance later on in the evening."

"Sounds like a deal." The music began, and Ben moved them. "I'm really glad you asked me," he said after their first turn.

Eyebrow quirked, Kyan asked, "Really? May I ask why?"

"I don't mean to presume," he began, growing nervous now that he was voicing his thoughts, "but I got the feeling you always wanted to, but you just. Didn't?"

Understanding bloomed across Kyan's face. "You are correct, I had never asked because I felt it would trouble you."

His words almost made Ben frown before he caught himself. "I don't think I would've been troubled."

"No, not you personally," Kyan agreed, letting himself be dipped. "I meant, it would trouble you because of what your father might say." He gave Ben a look. "Might say about me."

"Ah," Ben said lamely, unable to offer any counters to Kyan's statement.

His father would surely have said rather nasty words about Kyan, about any of Ben's male peers, should they ask him to dance. How transparent had Ben been, in the past, in his worry about his friends? Kyan obviously had noticed, but then again, Kyan was more attuned to such matters.

Still, the past was in the past.

"Well," Ben began again, "I'm glad you asked now."

"Oh, as am I. In fact, I would like to ask at any event we happen to attend together."

"I wouldn't turn you down."

"Unless your partners request it of you?" Kyan asked with a knowing smile.

Ben felt his cheeks warm. "Perhaps. They have every confidence that I will remain faithful, but they don't exactly trust others around me."

Kyan laughed, short and quiet but still delightful. "Well, I can't say I blame them. I feel like I would be the same, in their position."

"Oh really," Ben said, trying so hard for deadpan but unable to hold his expression in check when Kyan chuckled again. "I wonder why it is that people feel the need to coddle me."

"It isn't coddling, Benjamin," Kyan said, letting himself be spun. "It's simply possessiveness."

Ben flushed at that. "And I just happen to bring that out in people?"

"Oh yes," Kyan confirmed, a secretive smile on his lips, "you have a very good knack at inspiring the trait. That and protectiveness. I'm afraid you must endure such hardship."

Huffing in amusement, Ben said, "I wish I were more surprised at this revelation than I am, but given how so many people brought up the fact that I was like a cub to Audrey's lioness..."

Kyan laughed again. "Yes, it was an endearing trait, if you didn't experience it firsthand. I guess you just inspire fierce loyalty, Ben. There's nothing wrong with that." The music ended, and Kyan bowed.

Ben returned the bow. "Thank you, Kyan. And, uh, I apologize if you feel any glares throughout the night."

Chuckling, Kyan shook his head. "I welcome them." He placed a hand on Ben's shoulder. "I'm glad you were able to work things out. I wish you all well, Ben." He inclined his head before moving away.

Thank you, Kyan; I'll have to tell the others how you helped me, Ben thought, watching Kyan return to his sister's side.

He startled when someone linked arms with him, pulling him slightly away from the dance floor, but he relaxed when he realized that someone was Reed.

"Ben, you animal," Reed sing-songed, pulling him closer, wrinkling both of their frock coats. Though, knowing him, Reed's might have had wrinkles already.

"Hello to you, too, Reed," Ben said, amused. "Isn't it customary to head to the dance floor instead of away from it?"

"I'm not dancing with you, I'm stealing you away for gossip."

"I can't be stolen, it's my own party," Ben pointed out, not bothering to stop him.

Reed stopped short, letting Ben run into him, and he stared at Tala, adorned in a lavish crown and an even more elaborate gown, as she made her way to the dance floor.

"You know, one might think you're serious about her if you keep staring like that," Ben said.

"You hush," Reed said as he snapped out of his stupor. "We're not here to talk about my tragic love life, we're talking about yours."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "My love life isn't tragic."

Reed scoffed. "I should wash your mouth out with soap."

Grinning, Ben asked, "What about my love life?"

"How it's unfair," Reed bemoaned, hands on Ben's shoulders. "You said your partner was Miss Purple, not Bluenette and Mr. Muscle, Dark, and Handsome!" He shook Ben slightly. "You can't have all three, you need to share!"

"Four, not three," Ben said, too amused by Reed's theatrics to worry about his outfit.

Reed gasped, hand on his heart in shock. "Four!" he mock-whispered. "An animal, indeed! Benjamin, how could you hoard such beauties for yourself!"

"It's quite easy," Ben began, noticing movement out of the corner of his eye, "I'm a better partner than you."

Reed gasped again, this time with both hands cupping his cheeks. Then he laughed. "I think I like this side of you, Ben. Don't let them go."

"Not if I can help it," Ben agreed, shaking Reed's offered hand. "Now go ask Tala to dance."

Smirking, Reed bowed low. "As my king commands." He ran away before Ben could reply.

Shaking his head, Ben turned to where he saw Mal and the others, smiling when they tried to act nonchalant despite being caught spying. He laughed, beckoning them over, his heart fluttering when they moved to him without hesitation.

He still had plenty of dances to carry out with many heirs presumptive and heirs apparent, but he would always find his way back to them.

———

In a small, windowless chamber within Auradon Castle, far from the merriment of the grand ballroom, stood the Fairy Godmother, watching helpless as her sole daughter curled on the floor, shaking as she clutched at her head and her heart.

It was far too soon, and yet brunette hair began to fade to silver-gray, her eyes began to glow icy blue, and Jane cried out, irrevocably changed.

———

Ben stood on the balcony, letting the night air refresh him after his rounds on the ballroom floor.

The ball had been fun so far, many simply happy for him as they wished him well in his reign, and other than Reed and Kyan, no one outright mentioned the fact that Ben had shared a kiss with two different people, or how he kept returning to their side after every dance.

He hadn't really spoken to his father, but his mother had found him and had given him a hug, murmuring only about how proud she was of him. That was all he needed, really.

Still, it felt nice to be outside, taking a breather.

He was surprised Mal and the others hadn't needed a break, especially since he had seen Mal dance, as brief as it was, with Carlos while Jay danced with Evie.

Though, Ben supposed staying near each other helped, whereas he needed to mingle, and mingling always took his energy — even if the mingling tonight was more pleasant than other occasions.

"King Benjamin," came a soft call.

Ben turned, startled, words stuck in his throat as he watched Queen Elsa approach him. Blinking out of it, he bowed. "Your Majesty."

Elsa smiled, and a small chuckle escaped her. "No need to be so formal," she said as she stood an arm's length beside him.

"It seems rude not to be," he admitted; he had only ever been formal around her.

"You're already a breath of fresh air," Elsa said, words blunt but tone soft. "I was disappointed you couldn't make it to our Harvest Festivities."

"I apologize," Ben said, trying not to flush. "Other plans had presented themselves, and I couldn't say no."

"Other plans," Elsa echoed, her eyebrow quirked. "That's a funny way of referring to your partners."

Ben blinked. "Partners?"

"It wasn't hard to figure out. They both dressed to match you, they're adorned with diamonds and sapphires, they've shared your first and second dances." She smiled at him, features soft. "They share your smile. I can see why you would pass Arendelle over for them."

Words left him, and Ben could only stare at her.

"I can't say I blame you, of course."

He snapped out of it. "I didn't mean to offend you—"

"Benjamin," she interrupted, amused, "you didn't. I'm relieved."

"You're relieved... that I skipped your ball?"

"That you found someone who makes you smile," she corrected. "The way you danced with the two in black... It reminded me of my time with Duchess Amara." Her voice trailed as a wistfulness settled across her features. "I was afraid you wouldn't find that."

"Why?" he asked, curious at her words, at the fact she had the worry at all.

Her features molded into indifference as she said, "Your father."

"Ah." Ben couldn't say anything to that.

She huffed, the corners of her lips twitching downward. "I'll never understand his narrow view of the world, but it's soothing to know it hasn't rubbed off on you."

"I haven't told him," Ben found himself saying. "I haven't told him... anything, really."

Elsa studied him, her face blank, so hard to read. "You do realize you've shared a kiss with both of them, correct?"

"Yes," Ben said with a small laugh. "Probably not my best moment. But I couldn't help it. I was happy."

"Well," Elsa drawled, eyebrow quirking. "At least it wasn't an announcement of engagement." She chuckled.

Ben laughed again. "I highly doubt any of them would want to marry me," he said, unoffended. "And even if they did, I wouldn't embarrass them like that." Announcing an engagement in front of everyone would be the absolute worst thing he could do for them.

Having another chuckle to herself, Elsa stared out into the courtyard, taking in the gardens. "I'm really looking forward to your reign," she stated, a small smile on her lips. "If only because I'll actually attend council meetings in person."

Ben laughed quietly. "Well, I'm sure you're not missing much. I think if you attend one, you've attended them all."

"You never know," she said, her smile growing, "there might be one where—"

Elsa gasped, the sound turning into a groan as she clutched at her heart, falling to her knees.

"Queen Elsa!" Ben said, alarmed as he reached for her, only to hiss in pain as if his hands were burned.

———

On the island, a lone sorcerer stood on his last leg, having spent the day using his power to hold the island together since the breach in the barrier. He could not stop the bloodshed, could not stop the maiming and the killing, but he had gathered all his strength to keep a power greater than himself at bay.

He could no longer withstand the strain.

In a cold, dusty study, in a worn down excuse for a school, Yen Sid used the last of his magic and was no more.

And with him gone, the island collapsed in on itself.

———

On the balcony outside the grand ballroom, Elsa knelt on the ground, shivering slightly. She blinked, taking in a breath, and got to her feet. "I'm sorry," Elsa murmured, clutching both her chest and her temple.

"Do you need anything?" Ben asked, shaken both at the way Elsa had lost composure and at the fact that her magic had lashed out when he tried to help.

"I'll be fine," Elsa said, breathing easier. She looked at him, stricken. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine, your health is priority."

She shushed him as she hesitantly moved closer, shaking herself a little. Features smooth once again, she offered her hands. "Please, let me see."

Confused, Ben gave her his hands, and when he noticed her wince, he looked down. His skin was covered in frost. "Oh."

Holding his hands in hers, Elsa closed her eyes, brow creasing the smallest bit.

Ben held his breath as he felt his hands warm, as he watched the frost disappear from his skin. "Wow," he whispered as he moved his fingers, the pain no longer present.

Elsa smiled at him, but it faded too soon. "I should go. Something is obviously amiss, and I'd rather be within Arendelle's borders if it happens again."

"Queen Elsa, I—"

"It wasn't your fault, Ben," she assured, even as she refused to touch him. "I'm only sorry to end your day on a down note."

"You didn't," he said, concern still racing through him. "Should I have someone...?"

Elsa shook her head, already moving. "I came with my own attendants, in my own carriage. Anna and Kristoff had wanted to take the scenic route back to Arendelle." She paused, turning to him, and the smile she gave him was sincere. "I wish you all the good fortune, Ben."

"Thank you," he said, inclining his head.

He watched her leave, watched her navigate the floor to avoid any contact with people, and Ben wondered. He hadn't heard of Queen Elsa losing control of her powers, not since the first few days after her coronation, so what could have happened just a few moments ago?

She isn't sick, is she, he thought, dismay growing. He hadn't heard anything about that either, but he figured he wouldn't, as Elsa was a particularly private individual. He hadn't even seen her stop to inform Anna of her departure.

Maybe I can ask Evie to use her mirror to check in on her, he thought, perhaps a little guiltily, and he scanned the crowd, searching for Evie and the others.

"Ben?"

Ben turned, surprised and relieved all at once. "Audrey," he greeted, hugging her automatically. "It's late, and you're still out."

She smiled, playfully swatting at him. "I figured I could lose some sleep, seeing as you've given the students off tomorrow. More than that, I wanted to make sure you were okay. You were out here for a while."

"I'm fine," he said, taking her hand in his and giving it a light squeeze; she always looked out for him, and he would always be grateful. "Have you seen Mal and the others?"

"They were here just a few moments ago." She frowned as she scanned the crowd. "Perhaps they needed a breather as well?"

"Perhaps," he agreed, still searching. "We did discuss them leaving early if they felt overwhelmed. Maybe they left?"

She frowned. "Without telling you?"

He chuckled. "I told them they could. They fought Maleficent today, Audrey; they can retire early if they wish."

Shivering, Audrey nodded. "I don't think I've ever been so terrified. I can't imagine what they went through."

"I know," Ben said quietly, doing his best to remain calm; he'd been refraining from thinking about it.

Shaking herself, Audrey linked her arm with Ben's. "I think I should take you out on the dance floor one more time. And then I'll be fulfilled enough to retire for the evening."

A laugh escaped him. "Yes, ma'am," he said, heart light as he let her lead him back on the dance floor.

He would see the ball to its end, and then he would check on the ones he loved in the morning.

They all deserved a good night's rest.

———

Jay all but carried Carlos back to their room, impatient hands slipping beneath the waistline of Carlos' pants.

"Jay," Carlos gasped, eyes wide as he looked around. "Jay, slow down."

Never, Jay thought, holding too much back as it was.

The urge that struck him in the ballroom, the one that passed through Evie and Mal and him at the same time, it made him hungry, it made him want.

It took everything he had not to teleport Carlos and him away right then and there.

He waited until they were out of sight, but not by much.

The room was as they left it, the bed so inviting.

Time to break it in, he thought, and he tossed Carlos onto the center of the bed, waving his hand.

Carlos yelped, hands patting his now naked skin, lying there confused.

He looked delicious.

Jay crawled over to him, pulling Carlos close, grinding against him as he mouthed at Carlos' neck.

Carlos moaned. "J-Jay?"

"Hmm?" Jay kissed along Carlos' neck, his hands roaming.

"You had a rough day," Carlos managed to say, shivering at how Jay's hands groped his ass. "You should rest, you took on Maleficent."

"And lived," Jay said, something close to giddiness dancing in his belly. "I lived, Carlos, and I wanna celebrate with you." He had come close to death, felt it all around, as if it had touched his skin, but he came out of the cathedral alive.

"I know, but Jay — ah!" Carlos groaned, gasping as his hips stuttered. Confused, Carlos blinked at him. "Wha... What?"

"Getting you ready normally takes too long," Jay said, licking his lips as he wiggled his fingers, delighting in the way Carlos' cheeks flushed. "This way's faster."

To prove his point, he pushed Carlos down on his belly, ignoring the confused grunt the action earned, and he rubbed his erect dick against Carlos' now-stretched hole.

Carlos glanced at him over his shoulder, brow furrowed. "Jay, wha—" His words were cut off in a breathy groan as Jay entered him in one swift motion.

"Fuck, you feel great," Jay sighed out, already moving, chasing the pleasure Carlos' tight ass provided.

His thrusts left Carlos breathless, his skin burning to the touch, and Jay grinned, wanting more, wanting to see Carlos messed up further.

With his hand splayed on the center of Carlos' back, Jay pressed Carlos into the mattress, lifted Carlos' hips up so he could fuck him deeper, Carlos' moans, the way he grabbed at the sheets, spurring Jay on, making him thrust harder.

"You're mine," Jay growled out, gripping Carlos' hip tighter. "Understand that, boy?"

Carlos nodded wildly, clutching the sheets tighter, mouth hanging open in a continuous moan, as if Jay was fucking him stupid.

It was a good look for him, and Jay wanted to see it more, wanted to make it last.

"Ready to take what I give you?" he asked, not expecting Carlos to be capable of answering him but amused when Carlos nodded absentmindedly. "Of course you are. Practically all you're good for."

Carlos moaned louder, and it only made the fire in Jay's belly burn brighter, a string of words echoing in his head, He's all mine, he looks so good like this, he's perfect for this, made just for me, mine, mine, mine mine mine—

Jay groaned as he released inside Carlos, grinding his dick into Carlos, pulling high little whines from the boy. Jay sank down, laying flush on top of Carlos, and he continued to move his hips.

Carlos grunted, turning his head, blinking at him.

Smirking, Jay nipped at Carlos' earlobe before whispering, "Don't worry, we have all night." He grinned when Carlos shuddered, and he continued grinding into him.

The night was still young.

———

Evie couldn't stop giggling as she fiddled with Mal's jacket, trying to slip her hands under the garments to touch skin.

"Watch it, princess," Mal warned as she dragged Evie away.

Never, Evie thought, holding too much back as it was.

The urge that struck her in the ballroom, the one that passed through Mal and Jay and her at the same time, it made her hungry, it made her want.

And she knew Mal felt it too.

Which was why she had led Mal out of the ballroom, wanting more than ever to be locked away in their room, but she also couldn't keep her hands to herself.

Mal growled, pressing her close, and Evie felt a rush of magic around them.

The room was as they left it, the bed so inviting.

"Eager, are we?" Evie taunted as she began undressing Mal.

"Speak for yourself," Mal said, and she pushed Evie away before snapping her fingers.

Evie shivered at the familiar sensation of magic kissing her, unashamed of her nudity. She only looked at Mal, intent to wipe that smirk off of her face. She flicked her wrist, amused at the way Mal, now equally naked, blinked at her.

Mal braced herself, preparing to lunge.

Oh no you don't, Evie thought, and she deflected Mal's attack, instead pushing Mal down on the bed, pinning her. "You're going to do what I want," she snarled, her hands pressing Mal's wrists into the bed.

"Think you can conquer me?" Mal challenged, eyes glowing emerald.

"Tonight, yes," Evie answered, and she didn't wait for Mal's reply, rubbing their pussies together, delighting in the way Mal gasped.

She had already taken on one dragon and lived that day; Evie could certainly subdue a dragon much younger and much more inexperienced.

Because it was inexperience that would be Mal's downfall, and Evie would take full advantage of the fact that no one had ever touched Mal's pussy, the fact that no one had ever pleasured her directly.

Mal's brow creased, confusion at the new sensations plain on her features as her skin flushed.

Evie moved her hands to fondle Mal breasts, grinding against her harder, and she thought she'd become drunk on the moans that escaped Mal's lips.

She's mine, Evie thought as she moved down, spreading Mal's thighs so she could get her lips, her tongue on Mal's pussy.

Mal jerked at the contact, a whine escaping the back of her throat, and a hand shot out to grip at Evie's hair.

But Evie would not be deterred.

She lapped at Mal's pussy, not even warming her up to the sensations that came with getting tongue fucked, and Evie threw Mal's legs over her shoulders, burying her face in Mal's pussy, heady at the fact that her tongue made Mal soaked.

Mal whined, her body trembling as she tried to squirm away, but Evie kept her in place.

You're not going anywhere, Evie thought, her nails digging into the meat of Mal's thigh as she continued licking and circling Mal's clit, and when she felt Mal tensing, she sucked at her clit, switching to finger fucking her wet hole.

Mal moaned louder, and it only made the fire in Evie's belly burn brighter, a string of words echoing in her head, She's all mine, only I can make her like this, I could do this all night, she's perfect for this, mine, mine, mine mine mine—

Evie gripped Mal tight as her body tensed, and she swallowed Mal's release with the perverse triumph of having caused Mal so much pleasure. "I've conquered," she said as she pulled away, her rough voice a badge of honor.

"You haven't won yet," Mal said through shuddering breaths. "The night isn't over. My turn." The look in her eyes could only be described as feral.

Evie smirked, accepting the challenge and letting Mal push her down.

The night was still young.

———

Ben awoke the next morning in a good mood, heart lighter than it had been in the past two months.

Mal and the others finally knew his true feelings, and they've accepted each other without worry or doubt. Ben had been officially crowned king, and if Elsa were right, most of the kingdoms knew that Ben was in love with more than one person and apparently hadn't cared that much.

Maybe clear skies and sunshine were heading Ben's way, finally.

Despite the early hours of the morning — later than usual for him, though — Ben practically skipped down the halls of his castle, intent on inviting his loves to breakfast.

"Ben," Fairy Godmother called, appearing around a hallway corner.

Though he was surprised to see her, and so early, he smiled for her. "Good morning, Fairy Godmother!"

"We have to talk," she said without preamble, her normally pleasant expression dimmed.

"Okay," Ben said slowly, puzzled. "Can it wait until after breakfast? I wanted to eat with Mal and the others since—"

"Benjamin," Fairy Godmother said, tone urgent as she took a step toward Ben.

Ben paused, all good cheer leaving him as he actually looked at Fairy Godmother, at the way her frown deepened with each passing moment. "What is it?"

"We shouldn't talk about it out in the open," she said, eyes actually searching the area, as if she suspected spies looming about. "The barrier was breached, Ben, and all the enchantments placed upon the island were lifted." As she spoke, her expression crumbled. "I'm afraid this is grave news for all of Auradon... And for Mal, Evie, and Jay, especially."

Ben's eyes widened. She couldn't mean... he thought, heart rate spiking. "Do you mean he—"

"We can't discuss this out in the open," she said, more adamant than Ben ever remembered her being. "Meet me in your office as soon as you're able." She turned to leave.

"Fairy Godmother," Ben called, chilled at her frantic energy.

"I'm sorry, Ben," she said, frowning, her bottom lip quivering slightly. "Not in the open." She took his hand, squeezing it as she took a breath. "Your office, as soon as you're able," she said again, squeezing his hand a final time before letting go. Taking a breath to collect herself, Fairy Godmother turned on her heel and made her way down the hallway, hurrying out of sight so fast that she might have been floating away.

She can't mean... Ben thought, his heart still racing. He'd sworn to protect the four of them, but could he really protect them from something he had no means at fighting, from a force he was told could not be truly beat?

Ben turned his gaze to the window, brow creasing as Fairy Godmother's words rang in his mind, and he searched the direction of that one lonely peak that had always given him unease.

Out in the far distance, where there had once been ever-present clear skies, thunder rolled over Bald Mountain.