Unknown Happen Stance

Chapter 30: Public Expectations

"Chad," Mal approached him after Jane's therapeutic meeting, her voice sincere. "I'm seriously impressed with what you are trying to achieve." 

"I'm trying not to get as distracted by looks and being so envious of my baby sister, but it is difficult, Mal." Chad sighed his gaze shifting to the ground. 

"I know what you mean," Mal replied. "Evie and I are best friends, but on a real deep emotional level, she doesn't understand the struggle of Royal Family peer pressure and public expectations." 

"You can, however, to say the least, Chad." 

"Thanks, Mal, nice to know I am not alone in this experience anymore," Chad replied feeling a moment of camaraderie. 

It was one friendly conversation, but they both still had their walls built high with unforgivable deeds lingering just beneath the surface—Mal for Chad being a jerk the last two years, easily distracted by the promise of a great crowd for attention, and Chad wasn't ready to forgive Mal for stealing another girl's boyfriend. 

"That was a surprise," stated Jane, observing the interaction. She had grown close to Mal over the past year, especially after revealing Ben's true affection for Mal, seeing her as the proper woman he admired rather than the bad girl villain infatuation she believed to be part of Mal's heart two years ago. 

"Fauna wants us to meet her for a Magic Meditation session, Mal. It starts in 5 minutes." 

"Let's go then," Mal said, eager to leave the awkwardness of the moment behind. Jane nodded, understanding that Mal didn't want to dwell on her conversation with Chad any longer. 

Transition to Musa and Ben

As they made their way through the garden, Musa walked alongside Ben, sensing the weight that hung in the air around him. 

"Hey, Ben," she said softly, trying to break the silence, "you alright?" 

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, though the strain in his voice betrayed him. 

Musa felt the tension and realized this was the perfect moment for Ben to express everything he was feeling. 

"Sometimes it helps to let it out, you know," she encouraged gently. 

Ben took a deep breath, feeling the pressure rise inside him as he began to sing, pouring his heart out into the melody he had been crafting in his mind. 

Chorus: I think about the cherished times 
When my Father found his good side buried under all his enchanted fur, 
Married my Mom, got redeemed only to throw it all away 
When he gave me the crown at 16. . . .
Some generations younger are 10 decades wiser than their forefathers, 
Yet the wisdom that's right and true, 
Hidden in plain sight still falls on deaf ears! 
How many relapses do we have to go through 
Before the Cycle of Fear and Shame, 
Buried in imperfections, stops turning and churning? 

Verse 1: I know when and where and how my Father rubbed off on me, 
And I know when and how much Maleficent rubbed off on Mal. 
I need to be stronger for her in the face of my father's condescending hypocrisy, 
But his hypocritical words frighten and shake me to the bone! 
I shrink away into the corners, stay silent, too passive; 
My mind fools me to thinkin' he's right 
When my heart whispers my original beliefs are right, 
But I'm lost in a fog of doubt, 
One moment I feel brave, the next, I want to shout. 

Chorus: Why must they argue so?! 
I hate this caged-in feeling! 
A King with all the power and authority, 
Yet still feel powerless and useless, 
When all your Father does is look down 
On heart-to-heart decisions made for the better of the realm!