Dog People

Chapter 18- The End

A month later, Evie and I watched as Mal and Ben made their way up to the balcony. Carlos stood by my side, an arm around my shoulder as Mal and Ben appeared. Sky wore her leather jacket over an A-line orange dress.

"Lady Mal and I want to thank you for celebrating our engagement with us today. I couldn't be prouder, or happier to call you my queen. So, raise your glasses. To our future queen of Auradon!" Ben raised his glass of punch.

"To our Queen of Auradon!" we echoed.

"Speech, your specialness!" Carlos said.

"Your dragoness!" I added.

"Speech, oh fancy one!" Jay said.

Mal laughed, then stood there, silent while looking at me. "I can't," she said suddenly, "I can't be Queen of Auradon."

"Mal?" Ben asked quietly, placing his hand on hers.

"I can't turn my back on the Isle," she whispered to Ben. She turned to the crowd, looking at me. "We made a decision to close the barrier forever. And it was my idea, but it's wrong. I've learned that you can't live in fear, because it doesn't actually protect you from anything. You never know where the bad is going to come from. And you never know where the heroes are going to come from either. Without Uma and her pirates, Auradon would be gone. And without Hades, my father, Audrey would be gone. We're all capable of good and bad, no matter which side of the barrier we come from." She turned back to Ben. "And that's why I can't be Queen of just Auradon, I have to be Queen of the Isle too. And, it's time that we bring the barrier down forever."

I froze. Was she serious?

"We can't do that," Beast said.

"It's up to us, Dad." He looked at the crowd. "I choose to be a king who moves forward. It's time for forgiveness. It's time for new beginnings. The barrier will come down!"

I beamed at Sky as she looked out to the Isle with wide eyes. She could see her father after almost a month. I could see Mom. I could see my brother. My family.

It's time to bring together

Time for a brand new start

We gonna put it in motion

Break down what keeps us apart

No more, no division we down

New team, got the vision, unite

So we stand, now we living marching

In the light, one two, one two like

I see you (you see me)

Imperfect (perfectly)

Face to face

We can see clearly our similarities like

Day and night, wrong or right

We come together for a good time

We're gonna break this down

We're gonna rock the town

Everyone all around

Let's be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We walked off the balcony and down the stairs, walking while singing onto the bridge.

Believing in second chances

And we're all starting today

Marching on in a new land