Quirky Meets the Isle [Descendants 2]

The Art of Dyeing

(I didn't write it in, but obviously the song above happens)

Mal's POV:

I made my way to the salon. I ignored the 'Closed until Midnight' sign and walked inside.

I looked at the walls. They were splattered with different colors of paint, all matching Dizzy's eccentric and bubbly personality in one way or another.

Dizzy grinned when she saw us. "Mal! Is Evie back too?"

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "As if. I forgot that you guys don't open til midnight. The place looks good. So, what is your deal? Has your grandmother given you any customers yet?"

Dizzy shrugged. "Just a witch here and there. Mostly a lot of scrubbing and scouring and sweeping...lots and lots of sweeping."

"Sounds like a real Cinderella treatment, eh?"

Dizzy nodded. "Yeah... she's gone from wicked stepmother to wicked Grandmother."

"That's not really much of a switch. Hey, Dizzy, you used to do Evie, right?

"Yeah, I thought of the little braids!"

"Do you have any ideas for me?"

Dizzy studied me. "The washed out blonde with purple tips? The best of no worlds. You can't see where your face ends and your hair begins!" She grabbed my hand. "Ugh, what is this? Bore-to-die pink? How far can I go?"

"I could use the works. I mean, whatever makes me feel like me, but way worse."

Dizzy clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay!"

She went to work right away and soon, my hair was straightened and purple. I had bangs, which surprisingly suited me.

I smiled. "Hey! There I am! Voila." I handed Dizzy a dollar bill.

Dizzy smiled. For me?"

Mal nodded. "Yeah. You earned it."

"Hee-hee-hee!"

A new voice caught our attention. Harry Hook. He turned to Dizzy. "Fork it over, young runt. And the rest of it. Thank you."

I smirked at him. "Still running errands for Uma? Or do you actually get to keep what you steal?"

Harry looked at me. "Well, well, well. This is a nice surprise."

"Hi, Harry."

"Just wait until Uma hears you're back. She's never gonna give you back your old territory."

"Oh, well, that's okay. Because I'll be taking it."

"I can hurt you..."

"But not without permission I bet." I took out my gum and placed it on the end of his hook.

Dizzy raised a lazy hand into the air. "Great. More sweeping."

I made my way to the hideout and started spray painting the wall.

---

I was nearly finished with the wall when a voice caught my attention. "At least I don't see a picture of me with horns and a pitchfork."

I turned towards the voice, still holding they can of spray paint. "Ben!"

He tried to walk towards me and I put a hand up.

He smiled. "Mal, I am so sorry about our fight. It was all my fault. Please, come home." He held up his ring.

I frowned, walking towards him. "Ben, I am home."

"I brought the limo. It's a sweet ride."

I shook my head. "I don't fit in, Ben. I really gave it my best shot. If you think I can change, I think you're wrong."

Ben stepped closer to me. "I'll change! I'll skip school, have more fun, y'know? I'll blow off some of my responsibilities-"

I interrupted him. "No! No. See? I'm such a terrible influence. It's only a matter of time before I do something so messed up that not only the kingdom will turn on me, but they turn on you!"

"Don't quit us, Mal. The people love you. I love you." He placed the ring in my hand and paused.

I placed the ring back and his hand and stepped away from him. "I have to take myself out of the picture because that's what's best for you, and it's what's best for Auradon."

"Mal, please," Ben begged.

I shook my head. "No. I can't do this anymore. You should go, Ben. Ben, please go. Please leave."

Thea made her appearance. "So we came all this way for nothing?"

"Yeah, I guess you did."

"Friends don't give up on each other. One way or another we'll get you back to Auradon. People miss you."

"Thea, I don't belong there."

"Hmph. Tell that to everyone you left behind."

"Just go, Thea. Please."

She pursed her lips. "Fine. But I know you're gonna come back one way or another."

Thea turned and walked away.