De Vil-Radcliffe

Chapter 14- Cotillion

I stood outside as Evie got Mal ready. We took a limo to the yacht, where Mal disappeared below deck. Evie and I walked onto the yacht, watching people arrive.

Half-gloved fingers interlocked with my half-gloved red fingers. I smiled, laying my head on Carlos's shoulder. Pluto and Dude stood off to the side while Carlos led me out on the dance floor. He twirled me and danced with the music.

We stopped when we heard trumpets and turned toward the staircase. Lumiere appeared, smiling at the crowd.

A trumpet fanfare.

"The future Lady Mal," he announced.

Mal came out with a blue and yellow dress on. I saw Belle and Beast with proud smiles on their faces.

Another fanfare sounded, and Lumiere appeared again at the top of the staircase.

"King Benjamin!" he said in his accent thickly.

Ben appeared, and I smiled. I saw he had a hazy look in his eyes, making me confused. Ben walked down the stairs in discomfort as Mal approached him. He bowed quickly and looked up at her.

"Mal, I wish I had time to explain..." Ben trailed off as he looked back at the staircase.

Uma walked gracefully down the steps. Ben looked up at her with an adoring look in his eyes as Mal gasped with hurt. The four looked at each other in disbelief as Ben took Uma's hand and led her down the stairs. Once at the bottom, he kneeled down and kissed it.

"I'm sorry, it all happened so fast." Mal eyed Uma as Ben spoke. "Something happened when I was on the Isle with Uma. A connection."

"What are you saying?" Mal blinked. I could tell she was finding this hard to be real.

"I'm saying-"

"It was love!" Uma gushed. "It was. I just, I realized how alike Ben and I are, you know?"

"We are," Ben agreed quietly.

"Ben," Mal said softly. "Ben," she repeated, more loudly this time. "Did you go back for her?"

"He didn't have to," Uma sighed. "I dove through the barrier before it closed, and I'm an excellent swimmer."

"You are," Ben agreed nonchalantly.

"Thank you," Uma giggled.

"Listen, Mal." Uma took Mal's hand in hers, startling the latter. "I just really want to thank you. I do. For everything." Uma then pulled Mal into a quick hug, trying to fool everyone that she was good.

"Don't you see, Mal? You were right. You knew that we weren't meant to be together, that's why you never told me that you loved me." Ben put a hand on her arm.

After a few brief moments, music started to play and Uma handed a girl her purse. I watched in disbelief of the two. This wasn't Ben. Was it?

"Not too thrilled I risked my life for him." Carlos glared at the couple.

"No. This isn't him. I've known him for a very long time. He loves Mal. I don't know what happened." I shook my head in disbelief.

"We're with you, Mal." Lonnie walked over to her.

"Let's get outta here," Jay said, and I nodded.

We walked up the stairs, Carlos's arm around me, when Lumiere stopped us. Jane looked desperately at the other side, and we turned around.

"And now, for the unveiling of King Ben's masterpiece, designed especially for his lady," Lumiere announced.

A glass window pane was unveiled. It was of Ben and Mal in an early sunset, Ben taking Mal's hand in his. Everyone clapped as Ben walked toward it.

"Told you," Carlos said to Mal, making me smile as he looked at me.

"Cover that back up!" Uma demanded.

"I will not!" Lumiere retorted.

"Uh... Why don't you tell everyone present you have for me, Ben?" Uma turned to Ben.

"I have an announcement. Uma will be joining the court tonight as my lady," Ben started.

"Son..." Beast took off his glasses.

"Not now, Dad!" Ben exclaimed. He paused as everyone was taken aback. "So, as my gift to her, I'm bringing down the barrier once and for all," he finished. "Fairy Godmother, bring down the barrier."

"I most certainly will not," Fairy Godmother said in disbelief.

"I am your king!" Ben said firmly.

"Obey him!" Uma added.

"Ben's been spelled," Mal realized. "Ben," Mal said suddenly, walking up to him. "Ben. Look at me."

"No, look at me. You love me, remember?" Uma reminded him.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, you do."

"Ben, look at me."

"Bring down the barrier now!" Uma barked.

"I do not take orders from you!" Fairy Godmother snapped.

"Ben..." Uma said warningly.

"Ben. I never told you I love you because I thought I wasn't good enough. And I thought it was only a matter of time before you realized it yourself. But Ben, that's me. I'm part Isle, and part Auradon."

"Ben, eyes over here." Uma turned him around.

"And Ben, you've always known who we were and who we can be," Mal added.

"Don't listen to her," Uma argued.

"Ben, I know what love feels like now." Mal smiled. "Ben, of course I love you. Ben, I've always loved you." She pulled him in for a kiss.

"True love's kiss," Evie smiled.

"Works every time," Evie and I said in unison.

"Give it to me!" Uma lunged at Fairy Godmother.

"Guards, seize her!" Fairy Godmother shrieked.

Uma, in defeat, ran toward the edge of the dock.

"No, no, stop, please stop!" Mal begged the others. She turned to Uma. "Uma, I know you. You are so much more than just a villain. And you have to believe me because I've been there. Do not let your pride get in the way of something you really want," Mal said cautiously.

Uma's necklace glowed, and she hesitated for a moment. She then dove over the railing into the water.