Descendants 1: A New Story

Part 5: Baking Spells

In their dorm room, Mal lay on her bed, sketching in her notebook while Evie worked at her sewing machine. Jane paced back and forth in front of Mal's bed, clutching the bedpost as she complained.

"Mom said, 'If a boy can't see the beauty within, then he's not worth it,'" Jane said, mimicking her mother's sweet, singsong voice. "Can you believe that? What world does she live in?"

Mal snickered without looking up from her drawing. "Auradon?" she muttered.

"Mal, do you like?" Evie asked, holding up the dress she was working on.

Mal glanced over. "Yeah. It's cute. Brings out your eyes."

"I know," Evie said with a satisfied smile, and went back to sewing.

"I'll never get a boyfriend," Jane sighed, flopping down dramatically on Evie's bed.

"Boyfriends are overrated," Mal said.

"And how would you know?" Evie shot back. "You've never had one."

"That's because I don't need one," Mal said. "They're a waste of time."

Evie suddenly gasped, her eyes wide with panic. "Chad's homework! I forgot to do Chad's homework!" she cried, jumping up. "Oh no, oh no, no!" She scrambled for Chad's backpack and dumped the contents onto her desk.

Mal just shook her head. "And that," she said calmly, "is exactly what I mean."

There was a knock on the door as a girl with a short bob haircut poked her head in. She wore a bright, friendly smile. "Hey, guys! I'm Lonnie," she said. "My mom's Mulan...?" Mal and Evie just gave her blank stares. "No? Okay, anyway," Lonnie continued, not bothered at all. "I love what you did with Jane's hair. And I know you hate us, and you're evil... but do you think you could do mine?"

Mal scoffed. "Why would I do that for you?"

Lonnie held up a small silk bag that jingled. "I'll pay you fifty dollars."

"Good answer," Evie said, immediately grabbing the bag. "I need to buy more material." She looked Lonnie over with a professional eye. "Okay, I'm thinking we lose the bangs, add some layers and highlights..."

"Um, no," Lonnie interrupted. "I want it cool. Like Mal's."

Mal's jaw dropped. Evie started to laugh. "Really?" she said. "The split ends, too?"

Mal rolled her eyes and let out a loud, annoyed sigh. She put down her pencil, slid off the bed, and opened her spell book. "Okay, fine," she said, flipping through the pages until she found the right one and pointed a finger at Lonnie. "Beware, forswear, replace the old with cool new hair."

With a quick wave of her hand, Lonnie's neat bob transformed into long, soft brown locks that tumbled over her shoulders. Lonnie stared at her reflection, frowning. "I know, I know," Evie said, rushing over. "It looks like a mop. We can cut it, layer it..."

"No!" Lonnie said, breaking into a huge grin. "I love it!"

"You do?" Evie asked, confused.

"It's just..." Lonnie grabbed the hem of her neat skirt and tore it up the side. "There. Now I'm cool."

Mal flashed her a genuine smile. "Like ice."

Watching them, Jane suddenly got an idea as she went to the mirror,  grabbed the hem of her own skirt and ripped it, just like Lonnie had. A second later, her eyes went wide with horror. "What did I just do?" she gasped. "My mom is going to kill me!"

———-

Later on that day, Mal and Evie sat in their dorm room as Mal continued to search through her spellbook. Jay threw open the door to their room, whooping as he showed off his new tourney jersey.