Second in Line - Descendants (♡Mal)

Chapter 19

A/N:

Again a chapter with two songs, I put the first one at the top and the second at the bottom. Do with them as you like.

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

~Purple Dragon

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Mal made her way down one of the many hallways of Auradon Prep. Her classes were finally over and she was going to meet up with Evie and the others, mostly to talk about what had happened earlier that day.
     It had been a very chaotic day for the daughter of Maleficent. At first, all she had to worry about had been her classes of that day and causing some 'mild' mayhem during lunch break. Maybe spending some time with the Princess if the black haired girl's busy schedule allowed it. But then the 'little treat' from said princess and the Fairy Godmother had messed up her perfectly peaceful day.
     Mal hoped that Emma and the others had not noticed the double conversation that happened between them and their parents during their facetime session. Irritation welled up inside of her as she thought back to the not-so-subtle way her mother had talked, she had even almost slipped up and given away their evil scheme to the two people who were involved the most! And then everything would have been for nothing... Even though there was a small part of her that had hoped, just for a split second that...
     Quickly Mal shook the thought away. She had to stay focused. With the coronation so close she could not risk getting distracted. No matter how sickeningly nice it seemed in Auradon, and no matter how those warm, dark eyes of the Princess made her feel. Non of it was real. The only reason Emma cared so much about Mal was the love spell, she did not actually care about her at all, let alone love her. No. Love is a weakness, she must never forget that. The moment the love spell on Emma would be gone, so would those pretty eyes be from Mal's life. Not that she wanted that spoiled, prissy princess to stay in her life anyway.
     Thinking about the past few weeks where Emma had been absolutely head over heels with Mal, the fairy's daughter shuddered, especially at that awful song at the Tourney Game that definitely had not made her feel any specific way. Even so... After their date at the Enchanted lake, Mal had started to grow used to the Crown Princes's presence. Emma had become less intense around her after that, making her almost enjoy the girl's company. But also making her worry the spell might be wearing off and they could not afford something like that going wrong. Especially not after the whole Aggie fiasco. They had been lucky that had resolved itself. 
     Mal rounded a corner, her mind still racing with thoughts when her attention got pulled to the soft notes of a piano being played somewhere not too far from her. There was something melancholic to the slow paced music. Her worries from moments ago forgotten completely, taken over by a sudden rush of curiosity, Mal followed the music until she found the source. 
     The door to the school's music room stood open, only a few inches, but it seemed enough for the tunes from the piano to reach into the hallway. Now she had gotten closer, Mal could also hear a familiar voice accompany the piano.  "You put all your faith in my dreams." Emma, definitely Emma.
     "You, gave me the world that I wanted.
      What did I do to deserve you?"
     Quietly, Mal inched closer to the door, peaking through. And there she was, the Crown Princess of Auradon, the only person in a room filled with all different types of instruments. She could not see much, but it was clear to Mal that Emma had completely lost herself in her song. 
     "I, follow your steps with my feet.
       I walk on the road that you started.
       I need you to know that I heard you,
       Every word."
     Who is she singing about? Mal questioned, leaning a bit against the door frame to keep balance. At first, for only a moment, she thought it might've been about her, a song caused by the love spell like the ridiculous song, but very quickly it became clear that this was not about her. 
     "I've waited way too long to say,
       Everything you meant to me." Although the notes were clear, Emma's voice seemed to break with every word. Or maybe it wasn't her voice breaking, but her heart.
     "In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now,
      I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around.
      In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth.
      I am everything that I am because of you." 
     The young woman continued on the piano. Everything in Mal told her she should close the door and walk away. That this was a private moment for the Princess. But she couldn't. Hearing Emma sing right now, well, it was like hearing the real Emma for the first time. Not the one influenced by the love spell, not the one she portrait as in public, but her. Raw and melancholic and loving and entrancing. It was impossible for Mal to look away.
     "I, I've carried this song in my mind.
      Listen, it's echoing in me.
     But I never helped you to hear it."
     Mal couldn't help but lean in a little closer, pushing the door just a tiny bit further open so she could see better. Emma's hands seemed to almost fly over the instrument, fingers barely touching the keys. Then she breathed in and sang out with so much emotion, so much sadness, that Mal could almost feel it echoing through her own body. 
     "We, we've only had so much time.
      Oh, it kills me that you never knew,
      That pieces of me, where pieces of you."
     Emma's voice hitched as she took a sharp breath before continuing. 
     "I've waited way too long to say,
      Everything you meant to me.
      In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now. 
      I loved you more than you'll ever wrap your head around.
      In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth.
      I'm everything that I am, because of-"
     She hadn't meant to slip, but when Mal leaned in just an inch closer again, her hand lost it's grip on the door frame and she stumbled, one foot getting stuck behind the other and she fell forward into the room. She hit the door in her fall, making it slam open all the way till it hit the wall with a loud bang.
     Emma jumped, turning around on the bench, "Mal?" She exclaimed after seeing Maleficent's daughter pulling herself up from the ground.
     "Shit! I didn't mean to- I just- I walked by and well..." Mal looked up, eyes catching Emma's for the first time to see the welled up tears, making her loose whatever had come next in her mind. She cleared her throat and eventually just said sorry, not sure what else to say. 
     Quickly Emma turned back around, "It's fine." She said quickly, going back to playing the piano, only this time she played a different tune. It sounded more structured and simple, probably something she had learned early on when she had started practicing the piano. 
     Mal pushed the door closed and walked up to Emma, watching her play for a short moment before speaking up. "That song was really beautiful." Mal didn't exactly understand why she didn't just walk away after that disaster, but here she was, saying something nice to the princess. 
     Emma hummed, not looking up, "Thank you."
     "Who is it about?" Maleficent's daughter asked carefully, sitting down on the bench beside Emma, leaning a little closer. 
     "My brother." Emma answered curtly as her fingers mindlessly pressed the keys in the right order.
     "Oh." Mal pursed her lips, not sure what else she had been expecting. They were both quiet for a moment, the only sound the song Emma played on the piano. 
     "Our birthdays weren't close together so our coronations aren't close together either, but still... the closer I get to mine, the more it reminds me off-" Emma chocked on her words, then breathed in and changed her mind. "The more I miss him." Mal did not know how to respond to Emma's words and was relieved when she continued without needing her to. "Did you know he passed away only two days before his coronation? Maybe I should be thankful for that, at least I won't have to be reminded of how much I miss him every half a year or so."
     "I guess so." Mal managed to say. Only for Emma to slam her hands onto the key's, creating a harsh, chaos of notes while breathing out an exhausted sign and letting her head fall against the piano at the same time. 
     "Who am I kidding? I miss him all the time." 
     Mal did not know what to do. Regretting not just walking away to go find her friends after discovering Emma playing the piano. She was a villain, villains didn't comfort people, they made them suffer, they were the reason people were crying. But now this young woman, who's long, black hair covered most of her face, could not hide the soft drips of her tears that fell on the black and white keys. 
     Eventually, Mal reached out with her hand, then pulled back, hesitating for a moment, before softly laying her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Hey... It's okay?" 
     Something that sounded like a combination of a sob and a laugh came from Emma. "You're not very good at this, are you?" Emma asked, pushing herself back up and quickly wiping away her tears, putting a soft but forced smile back on her face.
     "Never really had to do that before... Mom was not really the comforting type either." 
     "Ha, I guess not." Emma responded, sniffing one more time. "I guess life on the Isle of the Lost is a lot more different than I thought it was."
     Mall scoffed, bumping into Emma with her shoulder. "You think? I bet you princesses had it a lot easier." 
     Emma sucked in some air through her teeth, "Mmm.... Being a princess really isn't all fun and games."
     "Mmmm, I beg the differ." Mal responded. Right at that moment, the door to the music room got pushed open once again. 
     "Oh, I think being a princess would be just wonderful!" It was Evie who walked in, followed by Aggie. For a moment Mal looked startled at Emma, both wondering how much of their conversation they had overheard. 
     "The dresses and shoes and a big castle with servants." Evie continued dreamily as she walked closer to the two by the piano. 
     Aggie snorted a laugh, "Aye, and millions and millions of rules and etiquette to follow. Don't be loud, don't slouch yur shoulders, don't inhale yur food- Real fun." 
     Emma laughed, "you're mother doesn't even make you follow those rules, Aggs." 
     Aggie lay down on the bench on the other side from Emma as Mal, hands under her head, looking up at the ceiling. She shrugged her shoulder, "Eh, still have to know the rules for official events." 
     "Oh come on, it can't be that bad." Mal stated, rolling her eyes. 
     "Yu really think so?" Aggie questions.
     "I know so." Mal answered with confidence, leaning over the piano to look around Emma at Aggie. 
     "Wanne bet?" The redhead pushed herself up from the bench, also leaning forward to look the Evil Fairy's daughter challenging in the eyes. 
     "Sure." Mal answered, looking back at Aggie defiantly. 
     "Okay." Aggie pushed herself away from the piano, turning around on the bench. She got up and walked over to Mal and Evie. "come on, get up, lemme teach you."
     Evie practically jumped up from the bench, "Yes please!" 
     While Mal shrugged before pushing herself up, standing in front of Aggie with one leg forward and arms crossed over her chest.
     Aggie walked around them, back straightened as she always did when couching the Tourney Team. "Now, remember: No nagging, bragging, sweating, fretting, slipping, tripping, slurping, burping, twittering or frittering allowed. Stay present, stay pleasant, stay proud." 
     Emma laughed at her best friend ready to drill these two in the ways of the princess. While shaking her head, Emma lay her hands on the keys of the piano, accompanying her friend as she started to sing. 
     "To be a princess is to know which spoon to use." 
     Emma joined in, going for a bit more positivity. "To be a princess is a thousand pairs of shoes."
     "To maintain a regal gait," Aggie continued, sending Emma a 'not helping' glare. "Leave the parsley on yur plate,
      And be charming, but detached, and yet amused.
     To be a princess is to never be confused." 
     Aggie took place in front of the two from the Isle, Evie seemed to actually try to follow what Aggie was saying with a hint of enthusiasm, while Mal took it all in with a cynical eyebrow raised. Emma joined her redheaded friend's side while Aggie continued. 
     "Do a plié and never fall." Without hesitation nor any effort, the two princesses gracefully showed them a plié, Evie copied, a bit out of balance but pretty graceful, while Mal almost lost her balance, but Emma was there to keep her from falling.
     "Don't ever stray from protocol." 
     "All through the day," Emma took over, letting go of Mal once she regained her balance. "There's just one way you must behave."
     "Do keep a grip and never crack." Aggie started again, walking behind the two, "Stiff upper lip and arch the back." With that, she poked Mal in the back, getting her to correct her posture. "Bend from above, and always wear yur gloves." Aggie completed her little circle around Evie and Mal, right on time to join her best friend as both of them sung: "And wave." While they stuck up their right hands and with a cupped hand made the exact same movement with their arms. 
     The two jumped to the side, Aggie beside's Evie and Emma besides Mal as they both continued the song. "Shoulders back," They showed the other girls exactly what to do, which they tried to copy the best they could. "And tummy in and,
      Pinky out and,
      Lift the chin and,
      Slowly turn the head from side to side." 
     "I see now." Evie joined in as she managed to copy them pretty descent, unlike Mal who struggled severely with her posture. 
     Aggie took Evie's hands in hers and Emma took Mal's, spinning them around while Aggie continued singing. 
      "Breathing gently,
       Stepping lightly,
       Smile politely."
      "Never show a thing you feel inside." Emma sang as she positioned herself behind Mal, who only had a short moment to bring out a confused 'what?' before Emma pushed her to move forward while Aggie did the same with Evie, singing:  "Glide!" Watching as the two tried to walk as if their feet did not actually hit the ground. To their credit, it was very hard to do without wearing a full gown that obscured your feet.
     "To be a princess is to always look yur best." Aggie sang. 
     "To be a princess is to never get to rest." Emma took over, just to switch back to Aggie again. 
     "Sit for a portrait, never squirm."
     "Sleep on a mattress extra firm." The crown princess sang before they continued together. 
     "Speak and be clever,
       Never at a loss for words." 
     Aggie went to stand in front of Evie and Mal while Emma sat back down behind another instrument, one that looked like a piano but wasn't quite the same. "Curtsy to every count and lord." Aggie sang.
      "Learn how to play the harpsichord!" Emma sounded a bit more excited as she played the instrument, it also did not sound the same as a piano, but more like a combination of one with a harp? Mal had never heard anything like it. "Sing lullabies and always harmonize in thirds." 
     "Thirds." Aggie joined in perfectly with her best friend. 
     "Thirds!" Evie and Mal now also had joined in and the four of them sung together for the first time. 
     "And, she has beautiful eyes." Mal sang a bit more quietly, only for Evie to hear while she watched Emma mess around a bit with Aggie behind the instrument. The melancholy and sadness from before completely gone, but so was the mask, the girl was laughing with her friend. "Spirits rise, 
      When she walks in the room."
    Evie looked at her best friend with a raised eyebrow and a hint of amusement, "I see."
     "Doors close, and the chemistry grows." Mal seemed to completely forget there were other people around her as she sang, not sure what this tugging feeling was that she felt when looking at the dark haired woman but knowing she did not want to let go of it just yet. "She is like a rose that's forever in bloom." A soft, adoring laugh from Evie made Mal clear her throat as if the words that had just left her were merely an unwanted cough. "Oh shut up."
     "Hey ladies!" Aggie called to them before Evie could respond. And before they knew it, Emma and Aggie stood beside them, laying a book filled with sheet music on both their heads. 
     "Do a plié and don't-" Aggie sang.
     "Ever ever ever fall." Emma continued, both Evie and Mal both showed off a plié.  Mal barely managed to keep the book balanced as she did so. 
     "Never show dismay." The princess of DunBroch sang.
     "And be there when people call." The other princess said while Evie showed off her good form by twirling around, making her blue dress trail behind her. 
     "Be prepared whatever royal life will bring." Emma walked backwards as she sang, Mal followed a bit slowly as the book wobbled on her head. 
     "Do keep a grip and don't-"
     "Ever ever ever crack." Emma and Aggie took the books off of Evie and Mal's heads while they sung. 
     "Take a dainty sip-"
     "Never ever turn your back."
     "There's a time and place for everything." The two best friends continued together.
     "To be a princess is to never make your bed.
      To be a princess is to always use your head!" The two friends harmonized as they snag the conclusion of their song, earning an enthusiastic applauds from Evie, while Mal shook her head, clapping her hands together almost sarcastically. 
     Aggie took a deep, extravagant bow, "thank yu, thank yu. We're here all night folks." 
     Emma laughed, "You might be." Emma tapped her finger to Aggie's nose. "I have a Magical Laws and Enforcement lesson to attend to." 
     "Sounds tedious."  Mal commented.
     Emma shrugged, a half smile on her face. "Well, it is important to know about when ruling the Kingdom." 
     "Rather yu then me." Aggie pulled a knot out of her hair as she spoke, "I'm happy ma brother is heir to DunBroch's throne. Fergie has always been better then me at that kinda thing." She scoffed. "Enjoys it too. The wee ballbag." 
     "I didn't know you had a brother." Evie commented on Aggie's story. 
     "Aye, Fergus the Second. If yu can believe it. But to me he'll always be wee Fergie." 
     Emma laughed at her friend's statement. "She always calls him small, but he's build like a house, much like his dad. Handsome too." 
     The redhead gagged, looking at Emma utterly disgusted, "Ew, Em, that's ma brother yu're talkin' about!"
     Evie let out a high pitched squeal, completely ignoring Aggie's words and only focused on Emma's. "Is he single?" 
     "Evie-" Mal rolled her eyes, Aggie just gave her a bit of a side eye.
     "He's a wee bit too old for yu, lass." 
     Emma nodded, "Besides, you don't need a prince, Evie. No matter what your mother says. Just follow your heart and you'll get where you need to be." 
     Mal caught Emma's glance while she said that, but she immediately looked away again, not liking the way the crown princess smiled at her. It didn't feel right.
     Evie bit down on her lower lip, avoiding eye contact with the rest of them, probably also thinking back to what her mother had said to her earlier that day. 
     "Look, girls." Emma started, addressing Mal and Evie, "about this morning-" 
     "Don't worry about it." Mal cut her off, not wanting to be confronted with all of it by the princess and definitely not wanting to slip up accidentaly.
     "But-" Emma tried, only Mal did not let her continue.
     "Really, it's fine. Our parents are just like that. We're used to it. Right Evie?"
     Evie snapped out of the thoughts she was stuck in and looked up at her friend, "What? Oh- yes, that was pretty usual for them." 
     "Oh, Okay. Well-" 
     "Anyways, this has been fun. But Evie and I have a lot of homework to do and you have to get another lesson to get to, right Princess? She we better be off." Mal spoke quickly, pushing her blue haired friend towards the door. "See you around." 
     Evie barely got to say anything else but bye to the two before Mal had closed the door to the music room behind them. Once away from Emma, Mal finally felt like she could breath again. 
     "Are you alright, Mal?" 
     Realizing Evie had noticed her moment of weakness she quickly shook it off. "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
     Evie looked at her friend with a slightly cocked head and an empathetic smile on her lips, "you sang something quite... sweat back there. Don't you want to talk about that?"
     "Nope." Mal responded a little too quickly. "I only said that to keep up the illusion that I care about her, which I don't. Nothing more. Now lets go find the guys, we've got lots to discuss." Mal did not give Evie a moment to respond or protest, it had been why she had been looking for Mal to begin with. Still, Evie didn't fully believe her friend's words, and as far as she could tell, neither did Mal.
     
     

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