Timeless Legacy

Turmoil inside

The VKs were sitting on a bench in the picnic area, their expressions somber as they reflected on the situation that had unfolded earlier. The weight of the day's events hung heavily in the air, and they were lost in their thoughts.

Ben approached the group, stopping at their table with a concerned look on his face. "Hey, guys. How is everyone holding up?" he asked, his tone gentle yet encouraging. He could sense the unease in the air. "Listen, forget about it. All right? It was nothing. Let it go," he continued, trying to lift their spirits. Standing behind Elina, he leaned down to her and whispered, "Tomorrow, after the coronation, I promise everything will be okay." He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head before straightening up. "I have to go. I'll see you guys later," he said with a small smile, before walking away.

As Ben left, Doug walked toward the group, clearly wanting to address something that had been bothering him. "Listen, Evie, I want to talk about earlier today. I just..."

Before he could finish, Chad, who was sitting at another table, stood up and called out, "Doug!"

Evie, looking hurt, quickly spoke up. "It's my fault, Doug. I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes pleading with him to stay.

Doug hesitated, torn between staying with Evie and responding to Chad's call. "Doug..." Evie called out softly, hoping to stop him.

But with a regretful look, Doug sighed. "Sorry, I can't," he said, before walking over to Chad, leaving Evie with a pained expression.

As Audrey and Jane walked past the VKs' table, Audrey seized the moment to stir up trouble. "How long does she think that's gonna last? Elina is just the bad girl infatuation," she said, her tone dripping with jealousy.

Jane, ever eager to join in, added mockingly, "Yeah. I mean, he's never gonna make a villain a queen."

Elina, hearing their cruel remarks, calmly stood up and faced them with a composed smile. "Well, this villain here is the daughter and niece of Blanc and Maleficent, so I would think twice," she retorted, her voice laced with confidence. She then tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked away with her head held high, leaving Audrey looking after her with a tinge of sadness.

Mal, watching the exchange, felt a surge of anger at Jane's laugh. She muttered under her breath, "Beware, forswear, undo Jane's hair." Instantly, Jane's hair reverted back to a short bob, and she screamed in shock, causing everyone else to burst into laughter.

"There's a lot more where that came from," Mal warned as she stood up and approached Audrey, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Audrey, attempting to put up a front, asked mockingly, "Excuse me, who do you think you are?"

Mal smirked, holding up her spell book. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" she replied, her confidence unwavering as she flipped through the pages. Audrey and Jane, realizing they were outmatched, quickly turned and ran away.

Mal watched them go, a satisfied smile on her face. "I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Let's grab that wand and blow this Popsicle stand," she said to the other VKs, her determination clear as she strutted away, fully committed to their mission. The group, now unified in their resolve, followed Mal with renewed confidence.

Elina was furious. Not just mad—furious. The taunts from Audrey and Jane echoed in her mind, chipping away at the confident facade she had worked so hard to build. She needed to talk to someone who understood her, someone who could calm her down and remind her of who she really was. Maddox was the only person who came to mind.

She walked briskly toward the snack area, where she had last seen him. As soon as Maddox spotted her, he quickly closed the distance between them. "Are you okay? I saw what happened," he asked, concern etched across his face.