CHAPTER 43

"There they are," Val says as Ben and Mal walk out while waving and bowing to people. Ben then leads Mal up to the balcony.

"Lady Mal and I wanna thank you for celebrating our engagement with us today. I couldn't be prouder or happier to call you my Queen," Ben says as he looks at Mal lovingly. "So... raise your glasses. To our future Queen of Auradon."

"To our Queen of Auradon!" Everyone cheers.

"Speech, Your Special-ness," Carlos calls as he raises his glass.

"Speech, Your Fancy One," Jay calls also raising his glass, causing everyone to laugh. Mal looks at her sister, knowing that if she closed the Barrier then they would never be able to see their mother or father again. She then looks at the Smee twins and Dizzy then thinks about how they would never see their dad and grandmother again. She thinks of how Celia and Felicity left because they couldn't be without their dad. Mal then looks at Evie and Val, while thinking about their dream to give everyone a second chance. Lastly she thinks about Uma and her father and how they helped save Auradon.

"I can't. I can't be Queen of Auradon," Mal says causing everyone to gasp in shock.

"Mal?" Ben asks her worriedly.

"I can't turn my back on the Isle," Mal tells him before turning back to everyone else. "We made a decision to close the barrier forever." Dizzy and the Smee twins look at each other sadly. "And it was my idea. But it's wrong. I've learned that you can't live in fear because it doesn't actually protect you from anything. You never know where the bad is gonna come from. And you never know where the heroes are gonna come from either. Without Uma and her pirates, Auradon would be gone. And without Hades, mine and Val's father..." The crowd gasps. "Audrey would be gone. We are all capable of good and bad, no matter which side of the barrier we come from." Mal turns to Ben, who is looking at her lovingly, because this is the girl he fell in love with. "And that's why I can't be Queen of just Auradon. I have to be Queen of the Isle, too. And it's time that we take the barrier down forever."

"We can't do that," Beast argues.

"It's up to us, Dad," Ben tells him. Ben wraps an arm around Mal before looking out at everyone. "I choose to be a King who moves forward. It's time for forgiveness. It's time for new beginnings. The barrier will come down!"

"Yes!" Carlos cheers causing everyone to laugh. Val looks over at Jay in happiness.

"Bring it down, Mal," Ben tells her with a smile. Everyone starts clapping and cheering before Mal motions for Evie, Val, Jay, and Carlos to join her. Fairy Godmother hands the magic wand to Mal.

"To make the world a better place..." Mal starts.

"We have to do it face to face," The VK's say together. Mal sends a spark with the magic wand making the barrier and the constant clouds disappear. A bridge appears connecting Auradon and the Isle.

"My plan. Yes!" Uma cheers as she and Harry walk out to see the bridge. Mal gives the wand back to Fairy Godmother before going to stand at the edge of the balcony with Val.

"It's time to bring it together

Time for a brand new start," Val and Mal sing as they look out at the Isle.

"We're gonna put it in motion

Break down What keeps us apart," Uma sings as she looks out at Auradon from her balcony.

"No more no division we down

New team got the vision" Mal sings as she snaps her fingers.

"Unite till we stand

Now we living marching

In the light, one, two

One, two like," Uma sings as she moves to the beat.

"I see you" Val sings.

"You see me," Uma sings.

"Imperfect" Mal sings.

"Perfectly" Uma sings.

"Face to face we can see

Clearly our similarities like," Uma, Val, and Mal sing together.

"Day and night," Uma sings as she is joined on the balcony by Felicity, Celia, Harry, and Gil.

"Wrong or right," Val sings as she and Mal are joined by Evie, Jay, and Carlos.

"We come together

For a good time

We're gonna break this down

We're gonna rock the town

Everyone all around

Let's be whoever like this

Stronger together like this," Everyone sings.

"Believing in second chances," Uma sings as she, Felicity, and Celia walk down the stairs.

"And we'll all starting today," Felicity and Celia sing.

"Marching on in a new land," Harry sings as he joins Uma, Felicity, Celia, and Gil in front of everyone.

"Our world's a better

A better place," Uma, Felicity, Celia, Harry, and Gil sing as they head for the bridge.

"Welcome the additional love" Evie and Val sing.

"Unity new beginning for us," Carlos sings as he, Evie, Mal, Val, and Jay head for the bridge.

"Harmony that's the mission Marching," Jay sings as he holds Val's hand.

"In the light, one, two,

One, two like

I see you, you see me

Imperfect, perfectly

Face to face we can see

Clearly our similarities like

Day and night

Wrong or right

We come together

For a good time," Everyone sings before they meet in the middle of the bridge. Everyone starts doing a dance.

"We're gonna break this down

We're gonna rock the town

Everyone all around

Just be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We reunited like this," Everyone on the bridge sings as they dance and mingle together before they start heading for Auradon.

"Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down

Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down," The kids left in Auradon sing and dance.

"Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down

Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down," Everyone sings as they dance, before the Auradon kids go back with the others. The Isle kids look around shocked before Ben leads Auradon in bowing to them. Uma laughs before running over to Mal and hugging her. Everyone then pairs off as they start dancing.

"We're gonna break this down

Break this down

We're gonna rock the town

We're gonna rock the town

Everyone all around

Just be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We reunited like this

We're gonna break this down

Come on we're gonna break it down

We're gonna rock the town

Everybody on the Isle

Gonna rock

Everyone all around

Just be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We reunited like this

Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down," Everyone sings as they dance before they all end looking out at the Isle. Celia and Dizzy come to stand on either side of Mal before she hugs them both. The sons of the Huns come over with a paper dragon that looks like Mal before circling around her causing her to laugh. Mal then starts jumping around with the Isle kids. Celia and Felicity run over to Dr. Facilier, Dizzy runs over to Lady Tremaine, and the Smee twins run over to Mr. Smee.

"Carlos?" Jane says.

"Yeah?" Carlos asks.

"I'm actually really nervous to meet your mom," Jane tells him.

"You're nervous? His mom is Cruella De Vil! I'm petrified," Dude says as he walks over to them.

"Wait 'til she hears I want to be a vet," Carlos says as he looks at the Isle worriedly.

"Hey. Get it, girl," Uma says as she and Evie dance together. "You know what? Mal and Val came through."

"They always do," Evie says as they look at Mal, who is still jumping around with the Isle kids and Val, who is talking with Ben.

"So, they're definitely taken?" Harry asks as he points at Mal and Val.

"Definitely," Evie answers him.

"So is Evie," Doug says as he stands next to her.

"What's my name?" Uma asks as she nudges Harry.

"Uma," Harry says before he goes to kiss her but she just shoved him away. Audrey then bumps into Harry. "Oh!"

"Hi," Audrey says as she bows to Harry.

"Hi," Harry says as he bows back before spinning her around. Audrey then drags him into the crowd with her.

"What do you say you, Val, and me go exploring? We'll do a gap year. Jungles or icebergs?" Jay asks Gil as Val jumps up and down in excitement.

"Both?" Gil asks.

"Yeah!" Val cheers.

"Chest bump!" Jay says before he and Gil chest bump. Jay then turns to Val picking her up and spinning around before kissing her. Jay then spins Val around, so she is facing away from him before putting a necklace around her neck.

"It's you and me forever. I love you, Val," Jay says causing Val to smile as she looks at the necklace.

"Forever and ever. And I love you, Jay," Val says before they kiss again.

"Am I invited to the wedding?" Hades asks causing Ben and Mal to turn to him shocked.

"Hi, Dad. Um..." Ben stumbles for words as Mal walks over to Hades, hugging him. Mal stands beside her dad as she smirks at Ben.

"I'm sure you two will be very happy together," Hades tells them before Mal hugs Ben. Behind Mal's back, Hades gives Ben the 'I'm watching you signal'. Mal grabs Hades' hand and starts to lead him into Auradon.

"Welcome to Auradon," Ben says as he pats Hades on the back, earning a glare from Hades. Ben then fixes his suit nervously before following after Mal and Hades, who are stopped by Val.

"Dad!" Val says excitedly before hugging him. Val stands beside her dad as she smirks at Jay.

"Take care of my girl," Hades tells Jay, who nods nervously before Val hugs Jay. Hades gives Jay the 'I'm watching you' signal.

"We're gonna break this down

Break this down

We're gonna rock the town

Oh, we're gonna rock

Everyone all around

Just be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We reunited like this

We're gonna break this down

Come on, we're gonna break

We're gonna rock the town

Everybody on the Isle gonna rock

Everyone all around

Just be whoever like this

Stronger together like this

We reunited like this

Bringing it, bringing it

Bri-bri-bringing it down," Everyone starts singing again as Mal, Carlos, Evie, Val, and Jay meet back up hugging before leading the way into Auradon. They are followed by Chad, Audrey, Ben, Jane, and Doug, who are followed by Dizzy, Gil, Uma, Harry, Celia, and Felicity. Everyone else then follows into Auradon.

Jay, Val, Mal, Evie, and Carlos walk back out and look at the Isle.

"Do you ever miss them?" Evie asks as they all think about their parents.

"Yeah," Jay answers as Val smiles.

"Do you think that they miss us?" Mal asks.

"Yeah. Of course," Carlos answers.

"Cause we're rotten..." Val starts as she puts her fist out.

"To the core," They finish as they add their fists and Val leans her head on Jay's shoulder.

"Hey, last one over the bridge..." Carlos starts.

"Is a rotten apple!" The others finish before they take off running across the bridge.