𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 - 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐭𝐞𝐧. 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐝

sᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ 30ᴛʜ
ᴏғ ʙᴀsᴛᴇᴛ 1219ᴀᴄ
10 ᴀᴍ

THE MORNING OF BEN'S CORONATION FELT LIKE ANY OTHER. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and all seemed right with the world. He remembered his mother arriving with different servants carrying breakfast, an elegant suit, an ornate sword he would need to wear on his belt, and other important royal items. Today he'd be crowned King of the Twelve Kingdoms of Auradon.

He felt like throwing up. But in a good way. The day was to be a joyous occasion, his father would abdicate his position and give way for his son to take the crown. A king for the next generation and to bring Auradon to a better future. It would be written in the history books for years to come. He wasn't aware of just how important today was because it'd be the day that everything would change. For better or worse.

Ben glanced over at the girl to his left. Dressed in a long lilac gown, he'd never seen her wear a shade this light of purple. It was a stark contrast to her dark purple hair and her usual black outfits. She looked like a princess, he thought. But it was better than that, it was like she was a princess for herself. Her colors and her style, it was still Mal. That's what he enjoyed most about their time together. She was so— her. Whenever he was around Audrey, it felt forced and fake, neither one of them acted like themselves.

"Don't be nervous," he told her, noticing her fidgeting amongst the wave of people and subjects gathered on the roadside to see them on the carriage. She still had that tendency to watch the people around here, like she was expecting an incoming attack any second. "All you have to do is sit there and look beautiful. No problem there." She smiled at the compliment and managed to relax a bit.

"Thank you." She told him. He knew it'd be a tough day for her. Accepting his invitation to be his personal guest for the coronation was more than just asking someone out. It was a message. Both to the Twelve Kingdoms and to the Isle (if they got the news in time). Mal was officially integrating into Auradon society. It would tell the Isle that there was a better way for them to live, and it would tell the rest of Auradon that there was hope for rehabilitation. Mal was here and she was here to stay.

Ben thought he was making history. And for the better. He had believed with all his heart that he did the near impossible and had these kids see the light, see a better way than what they were taught. A friend would one day tell him that it didn't matter if he were to blame himself, what mattered was whether or not he'd do something about it. It still didn't stop him from feeling guilt and shame for the rest of his days.

"Mal, would you wear my ring?" He asked the girl he thought he would love forever. He could imagine marrying her and having her as queen. He'd make sure the entire realm would respect her and he had grand ideas of setting the Isle free. Having all those innocent children brought to Auradon so they could fix the injustices done to them.

"Um— not now," but she refused to, and it hurt but he understood. He wouldn't push her. "I think it would probably just fall right off of me." And that made him feel better, he wanted to give her all the space she needed and she in turn tried to make him at ease. "I have something for you," Mal told him, holding up the tiny blue box in her hand.

Ben glanced down at her hands, "For me?" he asked. What could Mal have for him on a day like this? A gift? He wondered before finally opening the lid to find a chocolate mini-cake. Ah, just like the cookie from before. And with the way she had been acting, Ben could only assume she might've been nervous or even guilty. Guilty for spelling him and this was her way of apologizing.

Mal nodded, "Yeah. It's just for later, you know when you need strength. Some carbs to keep up your energy." She explained awkwardly, trying to be kind.