Unknown Happen Stance

Chapter 24: Burst of Bad News

The purple limo pulled back onto the Auradon campus, dropping off Evie, Carlos, and Jay.

"See you tomorrow, guys! Musa, stay where you are. Evie told me you'd like to meet Ben's father," Mal called out as she hopped into the driver's seat.

"I most certainly would," Musa replied, a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes.

"Well, here's your lucky chance! I'm giving you an honorary tour of Ben's palace," Mal said, her tone cheerful as she slid into the driver's seat. Evie had left behind the barrier sealer in the limo as Mal instructed, ensuring it could be returned safely to the royal family's palace.

As they drove, Musas's curiosity bubbled up. "So how did you and Ben become a couple?"

Mal took a breath, her mind drifting to their early days. "We were never meant to be a couple; I only fascinated him at our first meeting because I was as funny as I was pretty." Her voice faltered, and a shadow crossed her features as she recalled that awkward introduction with Ben standing beside Audrey, his girlfriend at the time. Regret and resentment stung deep within her heart, where memories of love spells and unexpressed feelings lingered like ghosts.

How could she explain the tangled web of emotions—the love spell erased by the Enchanted Lake and Ben's revelation during the coronation that his feelings had always been genuine? The thought of recounting such complexities felt daunting, especially with the temperamental storm that was Audrey looming just around the corner. Despite Celia's reassurances, Mal still sensed the oncoming tempest brewing in her heart.

Suddenly, she stopped the car outside the Magical Artifacts Museum and stepped out, Musa trailing behind her. As they walked toward the entrance, the doors swung open as if anticipating their arrival.

"Are those the sculptures of your friends and parents, Mal?" Musa asked, her gaze scanning the impressive display. "Never have I seen such on-point detail make cartoons look so creepy."

"Wait, what? We are cartoons in your world?" Mal replied, confusion knitting her brows.

"Your mother's outfits—well, Evie's mother and yours—their outfits are straight from our cartoon movies," Musa stated matter-of-factly. "My friend is from a place called Earth, where people write stories about princesses, heroes, and villains. This is a very different reality from Earth, but there's this sameness around me. I've seen Snow White helping the dwarves; her outfit is the same too, Mal, from her cartoon back in our world."

Mal blinked, trying to process the surrealness of Musa's words.  "Cartoons?" It was an interesting concept, but there was something unsettling about being part of a story that transcended dimensions. She still felt a flicker of unease in the backdrop of her mind as she considered the weight of her legacy.

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact you have movies about my parents," stammered Mal, her thoughts swirling.

"What are we looking for, Mal?" Musa asked, sensing her friend's distraction.

"I just want to double-check that the Queen's crown and scepter of my mom's haven't been tampered with. This way, Musa, no matter what you feel like the scepter wants you to do, do not answer its pleas. Anyone who isn't related to Maleficent will be cursed if they touch it. My grandparents taught my mother the necessity of fail-safes over her dangerous powers. The curses vary depending on the intent of the person retrieving the staff."

Mal's voice dropped an octave, a flash of dark, ominous green flickering across her clear glass-like pale green eyes, clashing with her new purple hairdo crafted by Dizzy. The mood shifted, tension thick in the air as they rounded the corner.

Mal pulled back the curtain, revealing Maleficent's very powerful, deadly, and dangerous heirloom. Musa felt the negativity radiating from it, a palpable force that reminded her of all the tumultuous tornado windstorms she had faced.

"Stop that!" She instinctively covered her ears and shouted, "Musical Arrowbolt!" A musical sound tunnel shaped like an arrow shot through the furious winds emanating from the staff, cutting through the chaos. Musa united her magic with her heart and mind, shielding her ears with one hand while channeling her power from within.

The crescendo of Musa's magic silenced the patterns of wind swirling from the scepter, bringing a moment of calm. Mal coughed, the oppressive magic vanishing into thin air. "See what I mean? It's a destructive, trigger-happy staff heirloom of an evil legacy!"

"Yeah, I get it," agreed Musa, adrenaline still pulsing through her veins.

"How did you stop that?" Mal asked, marveling at her friend's quick thinking.

"By listening to the silence my memories sent me, Mal," Musa replied softly. "It's not something I normally do, but maybe I should start doing it more."

"Well, I've got the knowledge I needed; the staff and the Queen's crown haven't been touched. Let's show you the Auradon Royal Palace, Musa," Mal stated, a sense of relief washing over her as they made their way back.

They climbed into Mal's purple limo, the car rolling smoothly toward the palace. As the majestic structure came into view, Mal felt a swell of pride but also a flicker of anxiety. What will change now that Audrey is back? She had her answers for today, but tomorrow was clouded with uncertainty.

As they approached, Musa admired the palace's grandeur, oblivious to the internal storm brewing within Mal. Whatever challenges lay ahead, one thing was clear: they would face them together.

(There you have it readers, Maleficent's outfit from the first Descendants' movie is the same as the one in the 1959 Sleeping Cartoon, & Snow White & Evil Queen's outfits are also the original Cartoon 1937 design as well FlamingoCrown7 so actually a significant part of Descendants is pulled from the cartoon movies. Descendants' Maleficent's outfit is the same dress she wore in the cartoon, the Evil Queen's outfit is the same as the one she had in 1937's Snow White and Snow White's outfit has always been the original Snow White Dress she wears with the dwarves from the 1937 cartoon, besties. WinxDynamix ) Enjoy!