Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos smiled at the crowd, relishing the events of VK Day. They’d actually done it! They’d paved the way and opened the door for more VKs to make a new home in Auradon.
“Where are we going?” shouted Mal and Evie, wanting to get the new kids psyched up.
“We’re going to Auradon,” yelled Dizzy, Celia, Squeaky, and Squirmy in unison. They were definitely psyched.
And so it began.
All’s quiet on the Auradon front, which doesn’t feel right. As if Uma’s not just waiting under the sea for her chance to pounce. Or jump. Or whatever it is giant octopuses do.
One week later, Mal stood guard by herself on Auradon Prep’s back balcony, looking every bit the fierce protector in a dragon-patterned dress and dragon-wing epaulets. The school’s blue-and-yellow flags flapped in the wind above her as she took in the morning air. The castle-like building’s pale stone bricks were sturdy beneath her feet, but Mal still felt uneasy. Auradon could never be truly safe while Ursula’s daughter, Uma, was still out there.
Mal scanned the vast horizon for signs of Uma. As far as Mal could see, the spectacular Auradon coastline lay quiet and peaceful, all rolling green hills and sparkling blue seas. But beyond the calm sea hunched the Isle of the Lost. Its magical, isolating barrier flickered and shimmered in the morning sun, the Isle’s dangerous population imprisoned behind it.
Today’s the big day, Mal thought. It was time to pick up the new VKs. She smiled to herself with pride. Mal, daughter of Auradon’s most-hated villain, spawn of the Isle’s mistress of evil, had passed all her senior classes (without the help of magic) and graduated from Auradon Prep. And her best friend, Evie, had finished at the top of their elite prep school class. They were truly Auradon girls now.
Mal shook her head and refocused on her critical task. She had to be sure Uma wasn’t going to mess things up and slip her angry octopus self into Mal’s peaceful life in Auradon. Mal shivered and recalled Uma’s disturbing transformation at Cotillion, from a wicked leader of rapscallion pirates into an eight-legged aqua-beast. No one had seen or heard from Uma since. Mal’s top priority was keeping Auradon a safe place for all the people she loved.
Deep in thought, Mal failed to notice that her boyfriend, King Ben, had walked up behind her on the balcony. The handsome royal put his arms gently around Mal’s waist and surprised her with a giant hug. Romantic surprises were one of Ben’s specialties. He was always making grand, unexpected gestures, like planning picnics by the Enchanted Lake or commissioning a personalized stained-glass window of him and Mal for Cotillion. Ben got so much pleasure out of seeing Mal’s joyful and shocked reactions to his surprises. This time was no different.
Mal jumped, whirled around, and greeted her dreamy boyfriend with a loving smile.
“Not a tentacle in sight,” Mal declared, taking Ben’s strong hand in hers.
“I believe if Uma was up to something, we’d know by now,” said Ben reassuringly. The king looked sharp and self-assured in his cobalt blue suit with its yellow pocket square. His honey-brown hair shifted across his forehead as he scanned the water.
“I know how villains think, and I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. She’s going to wait until our guard is down and then strike,” Mal said, looking thoughtful as she mulled over potential evil plots in her head. “I really wish I had time to do a dragon flyover, ’cuz I could go much higher.”
Ever since Mal’s brilliant Cotillion metamorphosis into a magnificent fire-breathing dragon, she’d been soaring over Auradon on a daily basis and safeguarding the kingdom from above. Because her dragon’s-eye view provided an unrivaled perspective, Mal felt it was her personal responsibility to protect Auradon from harm.
“Well, you can’t be everywhere at once,” said Ben, concerned that Mal was taking on too much. He loved her passion for Auradon’s safety, but the security of the country didn’t rest on Mal’s shoulders alone, even if she thought otherwise. Ben wished Mal knew how to lean more on others for help. She wasn’t on the Isle anymore; she didn’t have to do everything alone. Ben did his best to help her see that.
“Besides, I’ve got your back.” He gestured above to dozens of gallant royal guards positioned on the school’s high parapet, their telescopes carefully arranged to cover every direction.
Then, remembering why he’d come to get Mal, Ben threw his arm around her. “Now come on, everybody’s waiting for us,” he reminded her. Ben couldn’t wait to welcome the new batch of Isle kids to his kingdom.
With Mal and her friends, Ben had witnessed firsthand how an invitation to Auradon Prep changed not just the lives of the VKs who came over, but the lives of everyone they met as well—including himself. Ben could never have predicted that his groundbreaking proclamation for Auradon Prep’s integration would lead to his meeting the love of his life. But the wise leader had foreseen that given the right education and resources, villain kids could change. Children raised by evil parents could choose to be good. Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had. If only Uma had made the same choice. He had thought more of her. Instead, they all nervously awaited her return. Especially Mal.
“Wait, you’re getting more guards?” Mal asked, searching for reassurance in Ben’s eyes.
“I’m getting more guards,” he replied. He took both of her hands in his. “Now breathe.”
Mal leaned back and took a deep cleansing breath.
“C’mon,” Ben said. He wrapped his arm around her playfully as they crossed the balcony to exit.
“Okay.” Mal leaned into him, thankful to have him by her side.
I can’t believe how many people are here just to greet the new VKs. The only greeting party we got was Fairy Godmother, who nervously reminded us about curfew, and Audrey, who kept calling Ben “Benny Boo.” Maybe things really have changed.
Pastel-clad students, teachers, and parents gathered eagerly on Auradon Prep’s front lawn to greet the school’s newest Isle additions. Throngs of curious Auradonians had flocked to the event and were milling about the well-groomed gardens, converging under the King Beast statue and clustering on the school steps. They were all beyond excited to welcome the second wave of villain students to their side of the sea.
The Auradon Knights marching band, wearing snappy blue-and-gold uniforms, blasted out a toe-tapping number as the school’s cheer squad shook their pom-poms and rallied the growing crowd. Ben’s parents, Beast and Belle, mingled among the crowd, looking as proud as ever of their son and his efforts to rule the kingdom with kindness. The royal couple smiled at each other, noting all the electrified citizens who were waving homemade WELCOME ALL posters, flying painted REUNITE banners, and holding cheery flower bouquets.
Queen Leah and her granddaughter, Audrey, daughter of Sleeping Beauty, stood near a row of meticulously trimmed hedges. The two looked on with considerably less enthusiasm than most. Audrey’s mouth formed a serious line, and her brown eyes were unsmiling. She pulled at her long ash-brown hair—which was newly streaked with pink and blue—straightened her pink leather ensemble, and frowned at all the hoopla. Auradon Prep did not need more evil-offspring students. The first four had been more than enough for her taste.
The rest of Auradon, however, felt differently. A giant video monitor was set up atop the school’s battlements to carry a real-time feed of the Isle’s barrier opening. WELCOME TO OUR NEW VKS blazed across its screen. A formal royal guard detail stood in their pressed gold uniforms around the lawn. The king’s stretch limo, now painted purple in Mal’s honor, sat parked and ready to go in the circular driveway. In a few moments it would be crossing the barrier to pick up the four new VKs.
Many Auradon students, like Fairy Godmother’s daughter, Jane, were eager to befriend their new villain classmates. Jane held tightly to Carlos’s arm as he told her all about the twins. She couldn’t wait to meet them.
Doug, son of Dopey, was equally enthusiastic. He waited next to Evie in his full band uniform—complete with brass buttons and a tall gold hat—excited to fin
ally welcome the famous Dizzy. Evie had shared many stories about her precious Isle friend. Evie laughed with delight, flirtatiously took Doug’s arm, then noticed something out of the corner of her eye. “Here they come,” she gasped. Doug and Evie shared knowing looks filled with happy anticipation. Then Doug took hold of his drum major baton and started to lead the band in an upbeat tune.
Mal and Ben made their grand entrance into the packed festivities. Mal surveyed the bustling celebratory scene, quite pleased to see the newest VKs would be greeted with more excitement and fanfare than she and her friends had been when they’d first arrived. She was amazed by how things in Auradon had truly changed.
Ben adjusted his golden crown, which bore the Beast family crest, and stepped in front of the crowd to speak. Mal moved to join her crew, but Fairy Godmother blocked her path. “Oooh, stay,” said Fairy Godmother, looking proper as always in a conservative powder-blue dress.
“Stay here?” asked Mal, taking her place by Ben’s side on the stage. The couple waved to the jubilant crowd. Mal, who had once found the royal wave rather awkward, now performed it like a pro.
“Bibbidi-bobbidi, one two, one two. Can everybody hear me?” asked Fairy Godmother, testing the microphone. “Ben,” she said pointedly, and passed him the golden mic.
“Thank you, Fairy Godmother,” said the king. Then he broke out one of his trademark warm smiles that put everyone at ease. Ben had really come into his own as the leader of the country. His approval ratings were off the chart.
“What’s up, Auradon?” the king belted with rock-star style. “Thank you, thank you so much for coming out to welcome our new arrivals. They’ll be here soon.” His first official act as king had been inviting the children of Auradon’s sworn enemies to live among them. At the time, the royal proclamation had been controversial to say the least. But Ben’s courage, conviction, and risk paid off, and now all the citizens of Auradon were cheering on the arrival of more VKs.
Well, most of the citizens. Queen Leah, clearly displeased, pulled nervously at the strand of pearls around her wrist, leaned over to Audrey, and whispered, “Not like we had a choice.” Audrey nodded back, unsmiling.
“It worked out pretty well with the first four,” Ben mused to the crowd.
“Especially for you,” Chad, the preppy son of Cinderella and Prince Charming, shouted back. His blond curls shook as he laughed at his own clever joke.
“Yeah. Real funny,” said Audrey. She snapped her fingers and Chad cowered in obedience.
Ben gazed out at his subjects, then turned to face Mal and focused only on her. “Mal,” he said, smiling at his girlfriend, “this is the exact spot where we first met not so long ago.”
Doug suddenly removed his marching band hat. His shoulder-length blond hair sprang free. Evie handed him a guitar and grinned conspiratorially. Doug stepped forward, cleared his throat, and began strumming an acoustic version of “Did I Mention.” It was the song Ben had serenaded Mal with when he first declared his love to her in a very public way after a tourney victory.
Ben spoke softly into the mic, addressing Mal. “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. Did I mention I’m in love with you?”
Ben spoke from his heart as he told Mal that he never thought love like this would happen to a guy like him. Then he bent down on one knee.
Mal gasped audibly.
Ben held out a little blue box. Inside was a spectacular one-of-a-kind vintage-style ring with an enormous purple stone encased in a dragon design. It was by far Ben’s most romantic surprise for Mal yet. “It’s you and me, Mal. It’s you and me forever. Will you marry me? Will you wear the crown and be my queen?”
But before Mal could respond, Audrey blurted out, “No!” She couldn’t stop herself. The people who stood around her glared at the interruption.
“Yes. Yes!” exploded Mal, who, fortunately, hadn’t heard Audrey. Happiness danced across her face. She couldn’t believe she was getting married to Ben! The Auradon palace bells pealed loudly as Ben slipped the ring on Mal’s finger, stood up, and embraced her. The couple kissed—a real True Love’s Kiss—as if they were the only two people in the world.
The crowd instantly erupted in wild applause as a cannon released a sea of bubbles into the air. Evie, Belle, and Fairy Godmother all had tears in their eyes. Carlos, who’d thrown on Doug’s band hat, chest-bumped Beast, then turned to find Jay. The two pals clapped and pumped their fists, ecstatic for their friends. Dozens of onlookers flipped their DIY welcome signs to reveal sweet congratulatory messages like Queen Mal, Happily Ever After, and True Love, Mal!
Doug and Evie high-fived each other for their clever signage and exceptional teamwork. They really did work well together. Doug took in the massive scale of Ben’s romantic gesture and shrugged sheepishly. “It makes our movie nights seem a little tame,” he said humbly.
In contrast to Ben and Mal’s relationship, Evie and Doug’s flirtship was progressing at a measured pace. Not that they didn’t spend time together or make each other happy. But there was one big bridge they hadn’t crossed yet.
Evie looked at Doug tenderly and full of appreciation. “I love yo—our movie nights.” She seemed to have wanted to say something else, but just smiled instead.
“Me too,” said Doug. He smiled back awkwardly.
“Yeah,” said Evie, turning away quickly. Why couldn’t she say what she felt? She was happy to wear an oversized heart pendant around her neck, but she wasn’t one to wear her real heart on her sleeve.
Audrey, surrounded by the colossal celebration of love, felt crushed under the weight of utter devastation and raw heartache from losing Ben for good. Hearing that stupid song again only made things worse. Queen Leah narrowed her eyes with fury at her disappointing granddaughter, her pink ruffled collar framing the dour frown on her face. “A lifetime of plans. Gone,” she said. “Our family status. Gone. You were supposed to be his queen and you let him slip through your fingers. Your mother could hold on to a prince in her sleep.”
Audrey winced and tried to hold back the tears she felt coming. She swallowed the cold lump that had formed in her throat. “Don’t you think I feel bad enough already, Grammy?”
A squad of girls stood next to them, delighting loudly in the sheer romance of Ben’s proposal and chatting giddily about it. “Ben and Mal are the best,” said one. “I’m so excited for Mal to be our queen,” said another.
Audrey turned on them angrily. “You’d really rather have a VK on the throne than me?” she asked angrily. “What is wrong with you people?”
The girls rolled their eyes, laughed among themselves, and took their happiness elsewhere. But it didn’t matter. Everywhere Audrey looked, all of Auradon seemed to be rejoicing over Mal and Ben’s engagement. “What is wrong with everybody?” she fumed.
She watched with hurt-filled eyes as Evie ran to Mal and hugged her tightly. “Wait, did you know?” Mal, clearly still shocked, asked Evie.
“Everything,” replied an overjoyed Evie. She couldn’t have been happier for Mal or thought of a single person who would make a better queen. “You’re really going to rock that crown,” Evie added, running her hand along Mal’s long purple strands.
Then Evie turned to more important business. “I’ve done about a thousand sketches of your wedding dress. And Belle’s already planning an engagement party for next week,” she said, enamored with the idea of all the fun wedding planning that lay ahead.
Mal tilted her head and laughed. “Then it’s a really good thing that I said yes.”
Belle and Beast, all smiles, joined them. “Hugs, hi,” Beast proclaimed, and swallowed up Mal in a giant father-in-law-to-be bear hug.
“Hugs, hi,” replied Mal, glowing and at home with the royal family.
“I finally get a daughter,” said Belle, her face filled with sheer joy.
“I love you, Belle,” said Mal. And she meant it.
I love you, too, mouthed Belle in return.
Mal hugged them both. She
was grateful to be joining a family who loved and supported one another.
Teeming with happiness, Ben looked at the family scene and turned toward Fairy Godmother. “Thank you so much for your help, Fairy Godmother. I think she liked it,” he said. He glanced back at Mal and felt like the luckiest guy in the world.
“Bibbidi-bobbidi you betcha,” said a very pleased Fairy Godmother.
No sooner had Fairy Godmother congratulated Ben with a warm pat on the back and hurried off than Evie, Carlos, and Jay bounded to Mal with goofy, exaggerated steps. Jay bowed elaborately in Mal’s direction and spoke, his voice syrupy with sarcasm: “All bow to Your Royal Majesty.”
Evie curtsied with overblown reverence.
Carlos followed suit. “Your Royal Purpleness,” he said between stifled laughs.
“Silence, annoying peasants,” Mal told them, shooing away her friends with feigned disinterest.
“As you wish, my liege,” said Jay, who rose from his ridiculous prostrate pose.
“Your Crankiness,” added Carlos. The boys continued to crack themselves up as they bowed and scraped away, happy that although Mal was the future queen of Auradon, at heart she’d always be their goofy friend.
Mal turned to find Audrey staring at her with disdain. Her smile immediately faded; this couldn’t be good.
“Congratulations. You won him fair and square,” said Audrey. Then she cocked her head. “Oh, wait, no you didn’t. You spelled Ben to destroy all of Auradon. Touching story for the grandkids,” she sneered.
“Okay. Let’s do this,” said Ben, who stood nearby, unaware of Audrey’s comment. He glanced at his watch, then fist-bumped Jay and Carlos with new focus. They were expected elsewhere. The king was clearly in good spirits and ready to head to the Isle to pick up Dizzy, Celia, Squeaky, and Squirmy.
Mal flashed a fake grin at Audrey. “Speaking of kids, we have some kids waiting on us. So if you’ll excuse me…” she said, leaving a stony Audrey behind.
With a pained expression, Audrey watched as the royal attendants opened the limo doors for King Ben, Mal, Evie, and Carlos while Jay jumped effortlessly into the driver’s seat. The limo’s custom license plate now read MAL, in honor of the queen-to-be.
Descendants 3 Junior Novel Page 2
