Chapter 53

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MAL'S POV

It's been a month. Where is she!? We've searched all of Auradon AND the isle for Charlotte, but no one's seen her.

There's the constant dread in the pit of my stomach that Morgana got to her again and she's.... well, gone. But Charlotte is so much stronger than that and I'm just praying she's ok...

"M'lady Mal? Are you alright to spare a minute?" I heard Lumiere ask from the other side of the bedroom door. I haven't actually left my bedroom since that night at the restaurant. "Uhm, just give me a second." I called back before jumping to get dressed.

Once I was dressed, I walked slowly to the door and opened it, half smiling at Lumiere

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Once I was dressed, I walked slowly to the door and opened it, half smiling at Lumiere. "What is it, Lumiere?" I asked. He had this gleam in his eye that I hadn't seen since Cotillion 21 years ago. "Someone knows where Charlotte is!"

I think my heart just skipped a beat. I've been waiting for those words without knowing it. There's a new feeling that's replaced that dread. Hope. "Who? Where are they? Where is she? Lumiere, show me!!!" I said excitedly and sternly. He laughed and we practically ran to Ben's office.

As we went to Ben's office, we passed Charlotte's tower. Immediately, as if my feet had frozen to the floor, I stopes outside her bottom door and just stared at it. Tears came to my eyes as I remembered all the arguments, the laughter, the make ups, the games, everything Ben and I did with our daughter. All the times she'd slammed that door in temper then hid behind it as she tried to make amends.  How her and Jazelle would run up the stairs and giggle away until 4am in her room, always forgetting to shut the doors. How she brought Kono into the castle for the first time, through her window, and how they crept through the castle to the kitchen.

Everything came back and I fell to the floor in tears. Lumiere had gotten Ben by this point and he crouched next to me and hugged me. "It's alright, Mal. We'll find her. Chase and Rose know where she is." At the mention if his sister and her husband, I had a thought. Wonderland. Charlotte and Chase are siblings! If Chase knows where she is, it's got to be Wonderland!

The moment I thought that, Chase and Rose appeared with Bella and Adam. " We know where-" Chase started before I cut him off. "Wonderland! Please tell me I'm right you two saw her in Wonderland!?" They both laughed and nodded. A sudden wave of relief  brushed over me and I felt like I could finally breathe again.

She's ok. Charlotte's gonna be ok. "Do you know where she was going? And was she alone?" Ben asked as we stood up. Chase shook his head but Rose seemed to know. "She was with Kono. Pocahontas' son. She looked like she was heading for the White Queens castle." Chase and I shared the same look of 'How did she know that?'. "Thank you, Rose. Honestly, you font know how much it means for you to tell us that." I smiled, the knot in my stomach leaving.
"It's no trouble really. Chase was just too busy with Lillie and his sisters to notice."

After having a long conversation with them and Ben's parents, Rose and Chase left and Bella and Adam went to fjnd and nd way into Wonderland. You see, unless you're a Wonderlander,  you can't really get into Wonderland. "Ben," I looked at him, my voice wavering like it does when I'm worried. "What if we're too late? What if Charlotte is in trouble and we can't get to her? What if we never see her again?" I had so many question but Ben stopped me with a kiss. "Hey, don't worry about that. Charlotte is a strong girl, she can protect herself far better than we can. I promise you we'll get to her and we'll bring her back home." He told me, hugging me close to him.
"O..ok...."
He smiled, "That's my girl." Kissing my forehead, he went back to his office to finish some work, leaving me by Charlotte's room. Don't go in there. You haven't been in there since she left, don't cave now. I told myself.

But it was no use. Turning the handle, I walked through the door and started climbing the stairs to her bedroom. As I got closer to the top, I heard something. Something I never thought I'd have to hear again. "Mum?" I breathed, looking through a cracking in the doorway. Sure enough, there stood the one and only Maleficent, looking exactly the same as 21 years ago. How did she change back?? She didn't finally learn to love, did she? My thoughts were interrupted when the door swung open and Mum's crow boy pulled me in.

"Mal! You're looking positively radiant for a 38 year old woman!" Mum beamed at me as I stood there. I didn't meet her eyes, knowing what would happen if I did. "How...how are you here?" I asked quietly. She can't have learnt to love, she's still the same wicked person I left behind. "Well it took alot of work, but nothing that I couldn't handle with some help. Now, look at your mother." She answered.

I can't. Don't look up, don't look up. I told myself. "Mal. Look, at, me." She said, her voice cold and unforgiving. With hesitation, I looked at her. Bad idea. We started having one of those staring matches I haven't prepared for in years. She's so much stronger! Her stare weakened me and I fell to the floor. "What do you want, Mother?" I said through gritted teeth.

"You."

This is bad. This is crappy and I can't believe I'm posting this.  Hope you enjoyed it (if that's possible) and I'll cya in the next chapter. Bai!
X Caitlin X

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