A Rebel Princess

Chapter Twenty: Cruel Words

While Jay started up a game of croquet with Ben and Mal, Felicity went around greeting her other friend's parents. Felicity was a well-loved member of their friend group in the eyes of the parents. She adored them like family and kept them in line.

Everything was going surprisingly well. Evie was talking with Belle under the watchful eye of Adam and Carlos was having a blast chasing Dude around the field with Max in tow.

She came to a stop when she saw Emma talking with her mom, dad, and older sister Luna in a more secluded part of the gathering. Most people stayed away from The Wolf's since they didn't approve of Little Red's choice to marry a villain. But the couple was so in love that they didn't care what others thought and shared that same lookout on life with their daughters.

Not wanting to bother them, she kept going. Suddenly, she tripped and fell on the grass. Looking up, she saw Maverick, Mulligan, and Miccah, the young DunBroch triplets, staring down at her fearfully. "Sorry."

"It's alright boys,"Mulligan helped her up. "Just be careful next time."

"Our mum won't hear about this, will she?"they liked getting into trouble and were quite a handful but they knew their mother could hear about this and that was something they strived to avoid at all costs. Merida was a loving mother but since she had triplet brothers of her own, she demanded respect of her boys.

Felicity sighed. "Hear about what?"

"Thank you!"they said in unison before running off.

Shaking her head, she strode back over to her boyfriend who was having a great time with his friends. "Hey, babe. Having fun?"

Jay wrapped his arms around her waist, beaming down at her. "More than I thought I would."

"Maybe later we should introduce you and your friends to more people,"Lis thought aloud. "All of my friend's families are here and they'd be more than happy to meet you guys."

He nodded. "I think that would be great."

Ben came over, smiling warmly at the pair. "Your turn Jay."

"Be right back,"Jay told her, kissing her forehead before taking his mallet and following Ben.

She watched as he lined up his mallet to the ball and took a swing. The ball went through two hoops causing Jay to cheer. "Nice shot,"Ben complemented, giving Jay a high-five while Lis clapped.

But all good things must come to an end. In this case, it ended when Queen Leah shouted "YOU!" for the entire school to hear. Concerned for Mal, all of her friend's came to her side. "How are you here? And how have you stayed so young?"

Ben came in the middle of the group. "It's alright Queen Leah, Maleficent is still on the Isle. This is her daughter, Mal." His hands rested on Mal's shoulders comfortingly. Mal gave the woman a tight smile. "Don't you remember my proclamation to give the second generation a chance?"

"A chance to what, Ben?"Queen Leah narrowed her eyes accusingly. "Destroy us? You remember, don't you?" Her gaze scanned the crowd. "The poisoned apples? And the spells?" She stared at Mal. "My daughter... was raised by fairies because of your mother's curse. Her first words... her first steps! I. Missed. It. All!" She burst into tears while a few students and parents tried to console her.

Mal stepped forward to apologize but was stopped by Chad. "Don't touch her!"

"Chad,"Ben warned.

"What?"Chad yelled. "They were raised by their parents, Ben. What do you think villains teach their kids? Kindness? Fair play? No way!" He looked to Mal. "You stole another girl's boyfriend." Then Jay. "You enjoy hurting people." Next was Evie. "You're just a gold digger and a cheater." Finally, his hateful gaze landed on Felicity who was holding Jay's arm in an iron grip. "And you... you should be sent to the Isle, freak. You and all your traitor friends."