The Prophecy of Auradon: A Descendants Story

Five: Exiled

Uma and I sit at a lunch table in the gardens. I yawn and she yawns in reply. Cotillion was the next night. Evie is making all our dresses, and Dizzy is going to do our hair and makeup. Dizzy really likes it here. I think she's meant to be an Auradon kid. Everyone seems to have adjusted fine. All except for me and Harry. Neither of us really feel like we fit in. Then again we didn't fit in on the isle either. Evie and Mal join us at the table.
"This the VK table?" Evie asks smiling.
"I guess so." I say laughing. Mal seems upset. She doesn't say anything.
"Mal are you okay?" I ask.
"Ben and I never formally ended things and he went and asked Uma to cotillion right in front of me like it was no big deal." Mal says.
"I asked you if you were okay with it." Uma says.
"And I am. It's just a weird way for a kid from Auradon to act. I guess I'm worried and slightly hurt." She says.
"Have a strawberry," Evie says handing Mal the berry. She eats it and looks at all of us.
"Hey, where are the boys?" She asks looking around.
"Not sure." I say.
"Jay told me they had a special tourney practice." Mal says to me.
"Weird. Gil told me Tourney practice was cancelled today." I say. Suddenly a confetti cannon explodes with purple confetti.
"What the?" Mal asks. An origami dragon flutters into Mal's lap. It's purple too. Around it's neck is a plastic ring with a purple jewel. Like those rings you get out of the quarter machines in town.
"What's going on?" Mal asks. A hand grabs the ring and we all turn to see Jay standing on one knee, ring in hand.
"I know I'm not a prince, just a dirty no good, and this is no gold ring, and Ben sucks, so would you settle for me?" He asks. He smiles in a way I've never seen before, and I've known Jay a long time. Mal smiles back. She stands up and faces him.
"Of course. You're the best Jay." She says taking the ring and hugging him. We all clap. Evie nods happily at Jay.
"Well that was unexpected." Uma says as we walk back to our room.
"Maybe for you." Evie says.
"What's that mean?" I ask.
"Well. I sorta helped him with that. See, he approached me a few nights ago. After Ben asked Uma to cotillion." Evie says.
"What happened?" I ask.
"He told me about how he's always had feelings for Mal. He was down because he didn't think he'd ever get his shot, and when he saw that Ben and Mal broke up he didn't know what to do. So I told him to ask her." Evie smiles.
"That's so sweet." I say. Evie nods.
"Doug asked me using a necklace with my 4 hearts logo on it. Dizzy helped him with it." She smiles. Jane catches up with us. She's wearing a tiara.
"Guys Carlos just asked me to Cotillion in the sweetest way!" She says.
"How?" Evie asks.
"He tied a tiara to dude's vest and put flowers around his neck. It was so cute!" Jane squeals.
"I heard Chad asked Audrey with cupcakes and candy jewels." Mal says.
"We all have dates! This is awesome!" Uma says.
"Yeah but Jay and I are just friends." Mal says. She must not have heard us talking earlier. I could see Evie's face change.
"M don't say that. Maybe something will happen between you two." She says smiling nervously.
"I don't like Jay like that. We're just friends." Mal sounds more adamant this time.
"Hey where's Harry?" Uma asks.
"Don't know. Probably doing homework." I say. I know exactly where he is, but he told me not to tell the others. I walk down to the beach. Harry is hard at work constructing a boat out of wood and metal scraps.
"Hey Hooky." I say.
"Hey Panda. Be honest. How's it looking?" He asks getting down from the platform.
"It's not too bad. I'd make it more sturdy and I'd add something that would, you know, keep it afloat." I laugh.
"No duh." Harry says. 
"Hey you going to Cotillion?" I ask.
"Nah. Not my thing. Besides, I need to work on this boat." He says.
"At night? Won't it be cold?" I ask.
"I got it covered." He flaunts his jacket. I giggle.
"Are you ever going to talk to Gil?" I ask.
"I don't think he wants me to. Hey can I ask you something?" Harry looks at me.
"Yeah of course." I say.
"If you weren't with Gil, and if...I had asked. Would you have gone to Cotillion with me?" He looks down.
"Harry..." I say.
"I know. Stupid question. Never mind." He says avoiding eye contact.
"Harry. Of course I'd have said yes." I say smiling. He puts his hand on my cheek. Our foreheads touch. He slowly inches closer. I pull back.
"Harry. I love Gil." I say.
"I know." He says taking his hand away.
"Harry you're my best friend. And I'm so happy we're finally on the same page. I don't know what I'd do without you." I say. He hugs me tight.
"I'll always be here for you Panda. Nothing could ever change that." He says. We both walk back to the dorms. Uma is sitting on her bed fiddling with her phone.
"Hey Panda, where did you run off to?" She asks.
"Nowhere special. Just to the beach." I say.
"I can't believe Cotillion is tomorrow." Uma smiles.
"Yeah. It's nothing like those parties we had on the isle with rotten fish and broken street signs." I say.
"Yeah. Do you think we'll fit in?" Uma asks.
"With Evie and Dizzy making us look pretty? No doubt." I say. I frown.
"What's wrong?" Uma asks.
"I just feel like this is too fast. I don't know. It's complicated." I say.
"Let's get some rest. Take our minds off things." She says. I nod and we turn out the lights. The next morning my stomach is in knots. Uma looks over at me as I scroll through my phone. She peers over my shoulder.
"You have an awful lot of pictures of you and Harry on there." She says mockingly.
"Uma don't sneak up on me like that." I say flinching.
"Hey, you look sick. Everything okay?" Uma asks.
"What? Yeah. Just fine." I say. I continue scrolling through my phone. I finally find a picture of Gil and I. I pause and stare at it.
"That's a good picture." Uma says.
"Yeah." I say.
"What's wrong?" Uma asks.
"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right." I say.
"You wish you were going to Cotillion with Harry don't you?" Uma asks.
"What? No. I love Gil!" I say. The truth is I have more of a connection to Harry, and he's easier to talk to, but I love Gil.... I think. It's confusing.
"I wonder how our dresses look. Cotillion is tonight after all." I say. Uma nods. After breakfast and classes we decide to go watch tourney practice. All the girls are fawning over Gil. He pays them no mind though. Jay and Carlos are having a sword battle with the tourney sticks. I slip away to the beach when practice is half way through. Harry is almost done with the boat. He's been working for almost a week.
"Hey Hooky. The boat looks good." I say.
"Hey. Thanks. I'll have it done by tonight I hope." He smiles slightly.
"You're going to work on the boat while everyone else is at Cotillion?" I ask.
"Yeah. People and parties aren't really my thing." He says.
"Maybe I'll come down after to say goodnight." I say. My voice falters.
"What's wrong Panda?" Harry asks.
"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right. I don't think going to a dance will help." I say.
"Then come and help me with the boat." Harry says coming over to me.
"I promised Gil I'd go." I say. Harry frowns.
"Well when you need to get away from the streamers and the punch, come on down." Harry smiles. I hug him.
"I will Hooky. I gotta go get ready." I say.
"Well off you go." Harry smiles. I head back to the tourney field. Practice ends a few minutes later. Gil comes up to me.
"I'll pick you up at 8." He says smiling. He runs off with Carlos and Jay. Uma and I head to Evie's room to get ready.
"He's changed..." I say.
"So has Harry." Uma says. We laugh. We knock on Evie's door which has a sign that says "Evie's 4 Hearts." She opens the door.
"Hey guys. You're my last customers. Let's get ready." She ushers us in. She pulls out two hangers with covers on them.
"Pandora I made you an emerald green gown to go with your hair and your eyes." Evie says handing me the dress.
"Uma for you, Teal like your hair." She smiles. We all get ready. I put the dress on and look at myself in the mirror. Evie, Mal, Jane, Audrey, and Uma all look with me.
"You guys are gorgeous." I say.
"Pandora. You're absolutely stunning." Evie smiles.
"I think we all are." Audrey says. I feign a smile. Suddenly there's a knock on the door. Evie opens it and the boys are standing there with tuxedos and corsages. I've never seen Gil look so handsome.
"Pandora. You're beautiful." He says. I smile. Doug goes over to Evie and hands her the blue corsage. Chad and Audrey take selfies in the mirror. I like their confidence. Carlos and Jane just smile at each other and take each other's hands. Ben walks up to Uma.
"My Lady." He says handing her the corsage.
"Hey Ben." She giggles. Mal looks at Ben with a sullen look. Gil comes over to me and kisses my cheek.
"Here." He says putting the corsage on my wrist.
"You look amazing Gillybear." I say.
"Not as amazing as you." He says smiling. Jay walks in last. When he sees Mal his face turns a shade of red that hails in comparison to Celia's hair.
"You look beautiful Mal." He says shyly. He smiles.
"You don't look so bad yourself." Mal says. Jay hands her a corsage that glows with blues and purples, much like her hair. Green strawberry leaves decorate the edges to symbolize Mal's eyes. The corsage is handmade. I smile.
"Jay it's gorgeous." Mal says smiling.
"Are those my violets and my morning glories?" Chad asks. We all look at him funny.
"What? I like flowers." He says looking embarrassed.
"Yeah. And strawberry leaves from the strawberry bushes I just planted outside Mal's window." Jay smiles. Mal hugs Jay. Ben frowns and looks at Jay in disgust. Dizzy, who has been in the bathroom getting ready the whole time, walks out. Her dress is a mint green mixed with pink and yellow. She smiles.
"Wow. You look so pretty Dizz." Chad says twirling her around.
"Thanks Chad." She smiles and blushes.
"Your awfully smiley tonight Dizzy." I say.
"Yeah, did someone ask you to the cotillion?" Evie asks.
"Yeah actually. Tonka asked me." Dizzy blushes.
"Tonka?! How cute!" Evie squeals.
"He's so cute! I hope it goes well." Dizzy says.
"Let's go!" Ben says. Cotillion is on a boat right near the bridge between the isle and Auradon. There's a vast array of desserts and candies displayed on two tables. The regular food is on a third table along with the punch bowl. Gil immediately goes over to his friends on the tourney team. I stand next to Uma.
"Wow this is a lot to take in." I say.
"Yeah it's amazing." She says smiling. I feel sick. A slow song comes on and everyone dances with their dates. Gil puts out his hand.
"I can't believe we're dancing together in Auradon." He says.
"Yeah. I can't believe I'm here with you. There's no one else I'd rather be here with." I smile. He kisses me. I love Gil. I always have, but only as a friend, and the truth is, there is someone I'd rather be with. The song ends and more fast music plays. I go to the punch bowl and grab a cup. I walk over to the edge and look over the balcony. Everything is going too fast. Carlos comes up to me.
"You okay Panda?" He asks.
"Yeah. I um, I just don't feel well." I say. I can't stop the tears.
"Panda talk to me." Carlos says hugging me. Carlos is one of my closest friends from the isle. He was always there for me when we were kids. That's one thing that hasn't changed.
"It's all too fast. I feel like I can't breathe." I say.
"Shh. It's okay. You don't have to go as fast as the rest of us do. You can go your own speed, I promise we'll always look behind to make sure you're okay." He smiles a little and hugs me tight.
"Thanks Los." I say.
"Anytime." He says chuckling. Gil comes over.
"Panda, are you alright?" He asks.
"Yeah. I'm okay." I say. He takes me to the middle of the boat. He gets down on one knee.
"Pandora I don't know much, but what I do know is how much I love you. I want you to be my forever, so will you marry me?" He asks. The whole boat goes silent. I notice Uma gritting her teeth. Gil pulls out a star shapped ring. I force myself to smile.
"Gil we're 17." I say.
"I know. That's why this is a promise ring. I'll get you a real ring when the time comes." He smiles. Everyone is staring at us. I didn't know what to do.
"Yes. Yes Gil I'll marry you." I say smiling. He hugs me tight and puts the ring on my finger. Everyone claps. The night goes on. After the party is over I head down to the beach. Harry is sitting on top of the boat.
"It's finished." I say. He turns around and stops in his tracks.
"Wow." He says.
"What?" I ask.
"Pandora...you're beautiful." He says blushing.
"Aww Hooky." I say. I frown.
"What's wrong?" He asks getting out of the boat.
"I had a panic attack at Cotillion. Carlos calmed me down." I say.
"What about?" He asks.
"This. Everything going too fast. Not being able to keep up." I say.
"I understand." He says.
"I didn't even see Gil most of the night. Except for the one slow dance. And then.." I put my hand up. Harry's face drops.
"He proposed?" He asks.
"Yeah. I'm gonna marry Gil. When we're ready though." I say trying to sound excited.
"Congratulations." Harry says.
"Thanks. It's just...he's changed." I say.
"I knew that was going to happen." Harry says.
"Yeah. I didn't even get to really dance with Gil. His head is in the clouds." I say. Harry takes his hook off and puts in his belt. Then he reaches for my hand.
"Well in that case, can I have this dance?" He asks. I smile.
"Of course Hooky." I say. I take his hand and we dance to the sound of the ocean. Our fingers intertwine. He twirls me around. I lay my head on his shoulder as we dance. As we come to a close I look into his eyes. He kisses my forehead.
"Thank you." He says.
"For What?" I ask.
"Being you. Giving me a reason to smile again." He says. We both lean in slowly. Suddenly my phone buzzes.
"Get to the dorms now." Uma says. We walk back and reach the dorms. I hear yelling. We walk in. Ben is red in the face and Chad and Doug are standing in front of him.
"What's going on?" I ask. Uma comes over to me. She's crying.
"Ben's exiling us." She sobs.
"What? Exiling us?! What for?" I demand.
"I've seen enough. Effective immediately all villain kids are exiled back to the isle where the barrier will be sealed permanently. Except you Mal. I want you to stay with me." Ben says.
"We did nothing wrong!" Jay says.
"I can't trust you. I saw Pandora and Harry using some of that magic of her fathers. None of you are welcome here." Ben screams. Gil looks at me with a frown.
"I have no idea what your talking about." Harry says.
"Ben I can't believe I'm the one saying this but your making a huge mistake!" Chad says.
"The mistake was bringing them here in the first place. I saw the pixie dust glowing around them down at the beach. They were up to something." Ben says.
"Ben please." Mal says.
"You can stay Mal. I love you." He says. Uma starts to cry even harder when she hears that.
"No Ben. You don't get to have it both ways. I'm not staying here without my friends. Either you let them stay, or I leave too." Mal starts to cry.
"Very well." He says.
"Ben think this through." Doug says.
"No. This is final. All of you go back to the isle, you're all exiled." Ben says. We all head upstairs to pack up.
"Evie let me go with you." Doug says.
"Doug you wouldn't last a day on the isle." Evie says.
"So what are you saying?" Doug asks frowning.
"I'm saying goodbye Doug." Evie starts to cry. I hate seeing her like this, and it's all my fault.
"Carlos we can fight this." Jane says.
"Jane stop. It's too late." Carlos looks down at Dude the dog.
"Carlos please." She says.
"Please watch over Dude for me." Carlos hands Jane the dog. Everyone is so sad.
"Dizzy..." Chad says.
"Don't worry I'll be back! Maybe...." she says trying to sound optimistic, but not being able to pull it off.
"I'll find a way to bring you back. I promise." Chad says. Dizzy feigns a smile. I know she's hurting more than she lets on. Tonka barges through the door.
"I heard the news. Dizzy I'll wait for you. I promise." He says. He hugs her tight. Dizzy bursts into tears. Tonka holds her and strokes her hair.
"So...are you really not staying?" Jay asks.
"I can't. I just don't love Ben anymore. And I can't live without you guys." She says. Mal and Jay just look at each other in silence. Gil hasn't said a word.
"Uma Ben is a jerk." I say. She's still crying.
"Let's just go." She says. We head outside. Harry gets the boat he built.
"Go back to the isle and never return." Ben says. Chad, Jane, and Doug stand on the beach crying. We get into the boat and float back to the isle. When we get there, Hades is waiting on the beach.