Go the Distance

02

Everyone was gathered in front of the school awaiting Maia and Ben's entrance, and the king's surprise. Evie had planned it all herself.

Evie walked up to her friends and asked, "Are you ready for Maia's surprise?"

Elias nodded. "Yeah, but I wish you'd tell me. Or that Mal would."

Evie noticed them coming and said quietly, "Here they come."

Ben waved to the crowd as the band started playing.

Maia and Ben climbed onto the platform and Maia walked forward to step off, but was stopped by Fairy Godmother. "Oh, stay."

Maia glanced at her. "Stay here?"

Fairy Godmother nodded, and Maia and Ben waved to everyone. Fairy Godmother smiled and said into a gold mic, "Bibbidi-bobbidi, one two, one two, can everyone hear me?"

"Yes," Maia answered.

Fairy Godmother turned to the king. "Ben."

He took the mic from Fairy Godmother and said, "Thank you Fairy Godmother. What's up, Auradon?" The crowd cheered. "Thank you, thank you so much for coming out to welcome our new arrivals. They'll be here soon. It worked out pretty well for the first five."

"Yeah, especially for you!" Chad taunted.

Elias shot him a look as Audrey snapped in front of his face. "Not very funny."

Ben took his Maia's hand. "Maia, this is the exact spot we met friends of ours not so long ago. And years before we first spoke to each other. I feel like I've known you my whole life, but did I mention I'm in love with you?"

A guitar strummed and Ben sang, "I met this girl who rocked my world like it's never been rocked. And now I'm living just for her and I won't ever stop." They spun around each other. "I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me. But now look at what you've done, you got me down on my knee."

Ben knelt on one knee and pulled out a box. Maia covered her mouth. "Maia, it's you and me. Forever." He opened the box to reveal a gold ring with a light purple stone. "Will you marry me? Will you be my queen?"

"No!" Audrey cried.

Maia nodded and her voice faltered as she said, "Yes!"

Audrey nearly fainted, but was caught by Chad and her grandmother. Ben and Maia kissed and the crowd erupted into a loud cheer.

Maia ran up to Mal and Evie and hugged her tightly. "What, did you two know?"

Evie and Mal exchanged a look and she nodded. "Everything. I didn't tell her"

Maia laughed as Mal said, "Congrats, Maia." She looked at the ring. "Ben did good." She glanced at her boyfriend. "Elias?"

"Give me time," Elias said.

Maia laughed and patted her brother's arm. "Make it soon. Mal might get impatient."

Evie smiled. "You are going to rock that crown. Okay, okay. I've only done about a thousand sketches of your wedding dress and Belle and Megara have already planned an engagement party."

Maia let out another laugh. "It's a really good thing I said yes. My mom does enjoy parties and would be disappointed if I said no."

She walked up to Ben's father and he said, "Hugs."

"Hugs," Maia replied, hugging him.

She made her way to Belle. "Hi." Belle hugged Maia. "I finally get a daughter."

"I love you, Belle," Maia said.

Belle smiled. "Aw, I love you too."

Fairy Godmother watched the encounter before Maia hugged her. "Oh, sweetie. So happy for you both."

Maia hugged her mother. "I love you, Mom."

Megara smiled. "I love you too. Congratulations, dear."

Maia returned her smile made her way back over to us and Jay smirked. "All bow to her royal majesty."

Carlos took off his hat and said, "Ah, yes, her royal purpleness." They all bowed to her.

Maia waved her hand in a queenly manner. "Silence you annoying peasants."

Jay nodded. "As you wish, my liege."

Carlos and Elias frowned slightly. "Your Crankiness."

Maia rolled her eyes at the VKs and her brother, though more amused than annoyed.

Ben smiled and said, "Okay, let's do this."

The six of them climbed into a purple with the license plate MAL. Maia and Elias had managed to persuade Ben to let them go. We drove across the bridge to the Isle to pick up the VKs the four had chosen.

They were packed up and ready to go.

Once everyone was set, they climbed back into the limo. As they drove across the bridge, Dizzy asked what ice cream tasted like.

Evie told her about it being cold and sweet and Maia added, "Mint is my favorite. Elias and I know some great ice cream places. We can show you sometime."

Dizzy grinned and hugged her. "Oh, thank you, Maia!"

Maia smiled awkwardly. "You're welcome."

The border opened and the car drove through. Instead of closing all the way, it was stopped by Hades.

"Stop the car," Mal ordered. "He's trying to escape."

"I am a god!" Hades cried. "I don't belong here!" He blasted blue streaks at the boys, knocking them down. Elias pulled Maia behind him. Mal turned into a dragon and Hades blasted her. He kept blasting her and Maia and Elias watched in worry as dragon Mal was slowly forced back.

"Come on, Mal, blast him!" Ben and Elias encouraged.

Eventually, the border closed, and Mal shifted back. She landed on the car and Evie and Ben helped her down.

"Are you okay?" Evie asked softly.

Mal shook her head. "No! He was draining all of my magic with that ember and I felt all of my powers slipping away."

Evie glanced at the border and back at Mal. "But you're safe. He's back where he belongs."

Hades glared back at them before walking away.

Mal pursed her lips. "Yeah. For now." She leaned against Elias, and he wrapped an arm around her.

Maia and Elias exchanged a wary look in regards to who they'd seen and what had happened.

After a moment, Ben said, "We should go."

Mal nodded. "Okay."

They climbed back into the car and drove the rest of the way across the bridge into Auradon.