Go the Distance

10

Mal ran towards Uma and cried, "No, no! Stop! Please, stop! 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."

Uma's necklace began glowing and she jumped into the water and Mal ran to the railing and called out after her. "No! No! Uma!"

She reappeared in octopus form. "Ha ha ha! True love's kiss won't defeat this! The world will know my name!"

Uma swung her tentacles at the boat and everyone ducked.

Mal started breathing heavily her eyes glowed green. Elias glanced at her, concern across his face. "Mal?"

Maia moved closer to Ben and took his hand worriedly.

She shuddered and turned into a dragon and the two of them fought it out. Mal breathed fire and narrowly missed Uma.

Uma taunted, "Come on, Mal! Let's finish this once and for all!"

Elias let out a yell and jumped into the water.

"Elias!" Evie and Maia cried.

"Wait, Elias, no!" Jay exclaimed.

"Elias!" Carlos and Ben called.

Elias looked at the two fighting girls. "Mal, Uma, stop! Back down!"

Uma laughed. "What are you going to do, Elias? Splash me?"

Ben shook his head, running to join his friend in the water. "That's enough! This has got to stop! This isn't the answer! The fighting has got to stop! Nobody wins this way! We have to listen and respect each other. It won't be easy, but let's be brave enough to try. Uma, Elias and I know you want what is best for the Isle. Help me make a difference."

Uma gave him the ring and swam away.

Ben and Elias swam back to the boat and Carlos dropped a ladder.

King Beast smiled. "There you go." He helped his son up.

Hercules smiled at his son and helped him up.

Megara sighed, but smiled at her son, glancing at her husband. "He's definitely your son."

The crowd erupted in a joyous cheer, the VKs included. Mal turned back to her human form. Her dress was purple and black; oddly similar to the one in the stained glass painting behind her. Elias bowed to her, and she curtsied back.

"So, I did not know that I could do that," Mal said to Maia and Evie.

Evie smiled. "Tell me about it. That makes three of us. Shall we?"

Maia nodded. "Let's do it."

"We shall," Mal answered before walking up to Elias. "Hi."

The two of them shared another kiss and Carlos placed a hand on Elias's shoulder. "All right, all right."

Maia smiled at Ben and threw her arms around him. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"Hi," Maia said, still smiling. "Be right back." She ran off to change into another dress she could dance in.

King Beast smiled. "How 'bout that son of mine."

"Ours," Belle corrected.

"Ours."

Ben turned to face his friends. "I owe you guys so much."

Evie nodded. "Just a little bit."

"Yeah," Mal answered simply.

"If there is anything that you need, or anything I can do for you..." Ben began.

"Actually, there is," Evie interrupted. "I know a girl who would love to come to Auradon. It's Drizella's daughter Dizzy. She's like a little sister to me, and..."

"Then she should come."

Evie's eyes widened. "Okay! Okay, great. Actually, um, Ben, there's a lot of kids who would really love it here in Auradon. Kids just like us, who also deserve a second chance. Can I maybe get you a list?"

Ben met her eyes. "Yes! Yes. Uh, absolutely. Please."

One of the couriers walked up to Mal. "Lady Mal. We found your spell book below deck. Uma had it."

Mal took the book and looked at it. Maia, who had returned, noticed a look on Elias's face. He was waiting to see what she would do. "Ooh, um, you know, this seems like the kind of thing that belongs in the hands of Fairy Godmother. Fairy Godmother!"

Fairy Godmother appeared and said, "Yeah, that's me. Mm-hmm."

"Fairy Godmother, this belongs in the museum."

"It does, yes, and I'm going to take it-"

"Go for it," Mal interrupted.

"Okay," Fairy Godmother said as she walked off, spell book in hand.

Mal looked back at Elias. "I'm not going to be needing it anymore."

She splashed Elias, Maia splashed Ben, causing the crowd to gasp, and laughed. Elias and Ben splashed them back and once again, the crowd laughed.

In return, Maia stepped closer to Ben and tilted his crown to the left. Ben laughed and the two began dancing.