It Starts With You and Me

The Engagement Party

Mal's POV

It was amazing, beautiful, remarkably stunning. Two parts of me were coming together in a way I never thought possible. People from Aurodon and people from the Isle coming together with great joy. Singing could be heard through the streets of the kingdom, people dancing as if their lives depended on it. Whilst I was admiring the people of Aurodon, it suddenly dawned on me that as once I was married to Ben, there would be the coronation. After the coronation, I would be the official Queen of Aurodon. Lost in thought, I jumped a couple of inches off the ground when I felt arms wrap around my waist. 

"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked my jaw-dropping fiancee.

"You made it all happen," Ben responded. "I couldn't be prouder or more honored to call you my Queen."

I turned to face him, with our noses almost touching each other. I give him a soft kiss on the cheek and he places his forehead on mine. 

"Now more kids can experience their proper happily ever after," he whispers.

For so many years, I thought that having a happily ever after was a big, stupid joke. Raised in a home where love was looked done upon, it never occurred to me how amazing it was. I was ready and excited to become a part of the royal family, which, other than it meaning I was married to my one true love, meant that I could have a say in decisions around the kingdom. Suggesting that a villain kid would become Queen of Aurodon a few short years ago would, at the very least, get some rude looks and snide comments. Now, the people of the kingdom were excited to welcome me into the royal family. 

Ben's POV

Aside from the original remarks of my father's when I made the proclamation, everyone appeared pleased that we had taken down the barrier for good. The singing and dancing truly made the whole sequence of events feel even more magical. Although the kingdom was full of joy, the one containing the most joy was that of my beautiful fiancee, Mal. Looking out on the people dancing through the kingdom, I could tell that she truly believed that this was the right thing to do for the people of the Isle. I spent a few moments watching her smile out at the kingdom, our kingdom, before going up to her and wrapping my arms around her waist. I expressed to her how happy I was that she was to be my Queen and how proud I was of her. Her beautiful green eyes shimmered with the tears of joy that had been starting to well up. 

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," she responded, before turning herself back around to watch the festivities continue. 

Although I will never really understand how such a beautiful, kind, compassionate, loving girl like this came into my life, I know that there won't be a second that I live where I am not thankful for it.