Descendants 3

~Saving Auradon (part one)~

Chapter Twenty-Three: Saving Auradon (part one)

     A sleeping curse!?" Ursula exclaimed "Really? You can't do something... original?"
Malificent only rolled her eyes, "Sleeping curses are my specialty. It is original! And it will work!"
Mal crossed her arms, "Okay. So what do you want us to do?"
Maleficent smirked, "I only need a few ingredients... and I need a cauldron to mix it all up."
Mal scoffed, "And I'm guessing that I'm going to be the one to get everything, right?"
'Yes," Maleficent nodded "You and your new servant girl Aubrey."
"Audrey."
"Whatever. You'll get me everything I need, I'll create the curse, and then all of Auradon will fall asleep forever and villains will rein forever!" she cackled.
"That's only if you don't fail." taunted Ursula.
Maleficent whirled around, "What are you still doing here? Go get your revenge... or whatever."

•••

     So you're sure this plan will work?" asked Carlos. "No." Ben replied, honestly "But it's worth a shot, right? It's not like we have any other choice here." Jay let out a long sigh, "We just need to get Evie and Mal back to normal and save Auradon. Whatever it takes." Carlos nodded, "All right, then. Let's do this."

     Where are the girls?" Ben asked. "Lonnie's grabbing her gear, but I have no idea where Jane is." Jay responded. Just as he finished speaking, though, Jane came running in, "Guys! Guys! You'll never believe it!" Ben shrugged, "The villains?" She shook her head, catching her breath, "No. It's my mom! She's been turned to stone!" The guys gasped, "Don't worry, Jane. Ben has a plan. We'll get her back to normal."

     She beamed, causing Carlos to blush. Then they stared at each other for a while, kind of awkwardly, but mostly sweet. Jay coughed, "Hate to break up this moment, but we kind of have a kingdom to save." The two broke apart and cleared their throats, causing more awkwardness. "Right, yeah." "Hehe, sorry."

•••

     Mal murmured to herself and grunted as she rummaged through FGM's ingredients. She was one of the only people in AUradon who knew about it as magic had been outlawed, but she stole the key that FGM hid. She looked at the list her mom gave her again, "Okay... almost done. Just need a bottle of yawn of a troll and a jar of mist."

     She began searching again when she heard someone call her name. She whipped her head behind her. "Ben!?" she asked "What... what are you doing here?" He took a step towards her, "I could ask you the same thing." she rolled her eyes "What are you doing?" She crossed her arms, "None of your business... now... go away and leave me alone." Ben hung his head, but took another step forward, "Mal..." he sighed "Please come back to me... I need you." She scoffed, "No... you don't. I'm no good for you. I'm no good at good. Never was... Just... find someone else."

     Just then, Audrey came in from a different part of the room, "I found the jar of mist, but I couldn't find any bottles of troll yawns or whatever." She looked up and saw Ben, making her eyebrows furrow "Hey there... Benny Boo." Ben shot Mal a confused look, "What's with the new hairstyle?"

     Mal looked at Audrey, then at Ben, then at Audrey, then back at Ben, "Um... how should I know?" Ben put two and two together, "Mal... why? Why would you do something like this?!" Mal was about to defend herself, but instead, coldened herself more, "I don't have to justify anything I do anymore. No go! Or... or else!"

     Ben jumped a little, but then just shook his head, "Mal... please! Don't do this!" Jay and Carlos emerged from the shadows, "Mal. Come back."
"We're your friends."
"We just want what's best for you."
A tear escaped from Mal's eye, but she quickly wiped it away and threw her hands, "No! Just go away! Leave me be!"
"Mal. You don't have to be bad! But you don't have to be 'good' either." Ben was right behind her now "Be you."
He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around gently, "Mal... look at me please."
She hesitated, but then looked into his eyes.

     He held her close and smiled, slightly, "Mal... after all this time... I know you. I know I know you. And this... isn't you anymore. I promise I don't expect perfection. And no one else in Auradon does either. They love you Mal." He leaned in to kiss her, she let him, "I love you. I know your life in Auradon hasn't been easy. But you've gotten through it. We've been through so much. Please don't give up now."

     Mal let go of him and turned away. "It's ultimately you're choice, Mal." said Carlos. "We won't force you to do anything." Jay added. Mal was quiet for a long time, but after a while, she turned back around and hugged Ben, crying into his chest. He hugged her back and kissed her head, trying not to cry as well. Carlos and Jay soon joined the hug.

     The happy moment was soon interrupted by Audrey's laughter. It was a mix between a cackle and a sarcastic chuckle, "Really? Please. Eww..." she continued laughing "Oh... well, thanks for that. Anyways. Mal if you're not with us... you're against us. I'm bringing this to your mom." she held up the bottled yawn of a troll. "Audrey... give that to me." Audrey only grinned "Why aren't you listening to me!?" Audrey felt her head, "You've gone soft again. I'm not under your power anymore. I feel Maleficent calling. Got to go..."

     Mal tried to grab the bottle, but Audrey disappeared from a trail of black smoke. "Great. She has all the ingredients!" She began pacing and whispering, "What do I do?... Oh, what have I done?" over and over again. Ben tried to calm her down, "It's okay Mal, we'll stop them." Mal screamed, "But how!? Ben, you don't get it. My mom's going to cast a curse." Ben contained his fear and anger, "We... we can stop it... with this." He held up the blue stone. "What's that?" Mal asked. "Hades' ember."

A NOTE:
     Hey! I know it's been a hot minute. But I'm going to finish this, I promise! I'll explain everything when the book is done! The next chapter or the chapter after it will be the end! Please comment and vote! :)

Next Chapter- Will the villains and VKs succeed at revenge or will Auradon be saved?