Descendants 3

~Secret~

Chapter Five: Secret

     Ben tapped his fingers anxiously on the telephone, "Yes, Cogsworth. I understand... I will deal with it tomorrow, I've gotten a lot done today and-... okay goodbye." he hung up the phone and rubbed his temple.

     He hurried to grab all of his things, dropping some of it and having to pick it back up as he rushed out of the office. Then, he practically sprinted back to his dorm. Ben combed his hair, got changed, and grabbed the ring as well as the picnic basket.

     Ben ran over to Mal's dorm, adjusted his tie, and took a deep breath as he knocked on the door. It had been a few minuted with no answer and he knocked again. Evie was the one to answer, "Ben? What is it?" Ben tried glancing over her shoulder to see if he could spot Mal, "Uh... is Mal here?"

     Evie shook her head, "No. She hasn't been here since she left this morning to see you. It's been me and Dizzy all day? Do you wanna see the sketches we made for the annual fashion show?"

     Ben tried to sound as polite as possible, "Not right now Evie, sorry. I will later, though. I just really need to find Mal. Do you have any idea where she might be?" Evie scratched her head, "Perhaps she's in the art room. She's been going there often and-" "Thanks Evie! I'm sorry, I've got to find her."

     He bolted to the art room in the B-section of the school. It was dark in the hallway but there was a light on in the art room. "Mal?" he called. Her head whirled around and her purple hair along with it. She had a violet apron on and paint on it along with her hands and a dot on her cheek.

     Ben grinned, "Oh Mal. I've been looking all over for you. I brought this..." he held up the picnic basket, she said nothing "I got out of my office as soon as I could. I really wanted to make it up to you." Mal cracked a smile, "Really?" He walked over to her and set a blanket down. "M'lady."  he motioned for her to sit down. "Let me go wash up first." she says.

     When she returned, there were candles lit and strawberries on her plate. She grabbed her face, "Awe, Ben. It's set up exactly like our first date." Ben smiled as she sat next to him, "Here. I have chocolate dipped and regular strawberries." Mal dove right into them.

     After a few minutes of eating, Ben cleared his throat, "Um... Mal, there's uh. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
Mal finished her bite, "What is it?"
Ben continued, "Well, we've known eachother... for a while and we've been through a lot together and I love you so much and-"
"Oh, I love you too!"
Ben beamed, "What I'm trying to say is-"
"King Ben! He's in here!" called a royal guard.

     Suddenly, a whole fleet of people came pouring in, including Fairy Godmother. "Ben." she says, with a curtsy "We have been looking everywhere for you." Ben sighed and stood up, "Why? I finished everything for today and besides..." he looked back at Mal, she folded her arms and appeared very sad "It's late and I'm... kind of on a date right now." he went closer to her and whispered, "It's really important."

     Fairy Godmother frowned, "Well, I'm very sorry, Ben but as Cogsworth was trying to tell you over the phone, there's and emergency over at Camelot Heights that you need to deal with right away." Ben clenched his fists to his forehead, "Fairy Godmother..." he tried to remain calm "Can I... Can I please deal with this is the morning?"

     She shook her head, "I'm afraid not Ben. We wouldn't search practically all of Auradon Prep for you if the situation wasn't dire. Apparently, someone got lost in the Sherwood Forest and-" Ben nearly roared, "Fairy Godmother! I'm trying to spend time with my girlfriend. I barely get enough time with her as it is and-" Mal stood up, "Ben... It's fine. We can hang out some other time."

     Mal took her painting of the sad girl she'd done before leaving. Ben slapped his forehead and packed up, "I'm sorry for raising my voice, Fairy Godmother." FGM put her hand on his shoulder, "I forgive you, Ben. I'm sorry too, I know you and Mal haven't been together as often as you'd like, but you have duties now as a king." Ben nodded, "I know. It's just... sometimes I wish I could have a break from being king. You know?"

     FGM bopped her head, "Yes, I know. But you're father's always full of advise. Maybe you could ask him how he balanced it." Ben grabbed the basket, "Yeah... okay." WIth droopy shoulders, he retired to his office.

•••

     "The plan is simple!" Francis exclaimed "Do you seriously need me to go through it again!?" Aria's vacant eyes stared into his as she nodded slowly. He groaned, "You're going to go into the museum and take Mal's spell book when no one is looking, got it?"

     Quinn rolled her eyes, "How is she going to do that? There are security cameras, gurards. Not to mention that there will be tons of pricy pink princesses and princes walking around."
"Maybe I can help." said a voice. Everyone turned to see where the source came from.

     A girl with brown-skin, aqua, black-white braids, and sky blue-painted nails wearing an aqua leather top with multicolored bands like a skirt, a purple translucent top, a aqua leather coat with gold details, and multicolored bands on the shoulders, dark aqua pants with zippers, and brown boots with pearls, sea-stars, shells, and her pirate crew's symbolic pin approached them, putting her hand on her hip. She lifted up her pirate hat to make eye contact with the rest of them. She wore black fingerless gloves with sea-stars, pearl bracelets, a sky blue bracelet with spikes, black and brown belts, a black band, and a sheath for her sword.

     The VKs gasped, "Uma!?"

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