CHAPTER 29

(Val POV)

"Mal," Beast says stopping her.

"Honey, we're so sorry. We had no idea," Belle says.

"I'm gonna talk to him," Beast says and Mal takes off.

"Lumiere, unveil the gift. They need to see it!" Jane says as she runs to the announcer.

"And now for the unveiling of King Ben's masterpiece, designed especially for his lady," Lumiere announces. They pull a cover off of a painting to reveal Mal and Ben. Mal is wearing purple with her purple hair and green eyes. The crowd cheers.

"Ben did that?" Mal asks.

"Yeah, he did," Evie answers.

"Oh! Evie. Val. Ben's known who I was all along," Mal says as we walk back down the stairs.

"He loves the real you, M," I tell her

"A true love," Mal states.

"Yeah," Evie agrees.

"Told you," Carlos says.

"Cover that back up!" Uma yells.

"I will not!" Lumiere says.

"Um, uh... why don't you tell everyone the present you have for me, Ben?" Uma asks Ben.

"I have an announcement! Uma will be joining the court tonight as my lady," Ben says.

"Son..." Beast tries.

"Not now, Dad!" Ben says.

"Uh, so as my gift to her, I'm bringing down the barrier once and for all!" Ben says. It then clicks, Ben is spelled. "Fairy Godmother. Bring down the barrier."

"I most certainly will not," Fairy Godmother says.

"I am your king!" Ben yells.

"Obey him," Uma says.

"Ben's been spelled," I tell Mal.

"Ben," Uma says making him look at her.

"Uma found your spellbook," Evie states.

"Just look at me," Uma says.

"Ben. Ben," Mal says as she walks forward. Ben looks at her. "Look at me."

"No, look at me," Uma argues. I go to stand beside Mal. "You love me, remember?"

"No, you don't," Mal argues.

"Yes, you do," Uma argues.

"Ben, look at me," Mal says.

"Bring down the barrier now!" Uma orders.

"I do not take orders from you!" Fairy Godmother says.

"Ben?" Uma says.

"Ben, I never told you that I loved you because I thought that I wasn't good enough. And I thought that it was only a matter of time before you realized that yourself. But, Ben, that's me! I'm part Isle and part Auradon," Mal explains as she points at the painting.

"Ben, eyes over here," Uma tries.

"And, Ben, you've always known who we were and who we can be," Mal says.

"Don't listen to her," Uma tries.

"Ben, I know what love feels like now. Ben, of course, I love you. Ben, I've always loved you," Mal says before kissing Ben. I step back beside Evie.

"Mal," Ben says as they break apart and rest their foreheads on each other.

"True love's kiss," I state.

"Works every time," Evie adds.

"Ugh, give it to me!" Uma says grabbing for the wand.

"No!" I say as I get between her and Fairy Godmother.

"Guards, seize her!" Fairy Godmother yells. Uma then runs to the side of the ship.

"No, no! Stop, please! Stop!" Mal calls out making everyone back off.

"Uma, I know you. You are so much more than just a villain," I tell her as I step up beside Mal.

"And you have to believe me because I've been there. Do not let your pride get in the way of something that you really want," Mal adds. Uma's necklace starts to glow. Uma then climbs the rail.

"No, no! Uma!" Mal calls as Uma jumps into the water.

"Uma!" Ben says as we all rush to the rail. We all get soaked with water when Uma emerges from the water with tentacles and is bigger than before.

"True love's kiss won't defeat this. The world will know my name!" Uma says. Uma slings her tentacles at us making us duck. I walk to the side of the ship where no one is at and Mal follows. I start shaking and my eyes start turning green.

"Val?" Jay asks as he steps forward. Mal starts doing the same thing.

"Mal?" Ben asks as he also steps forward. A green mist appears around me and a purple one around Mal. We are swallowed in the mists and come out as dragons. I blow fire at Uma and she slings her tentacle at Mal and me.

"Come on, Val, Mal! Let's finish this once and for all!" Uma calls out. Mal blows fire at Uma making her dodge into the water. Uma swings her tentacle at Mal. I then blow fire at Uma making her go completely underwater. She emerges and makes the ship shake. Ben then comes back to edge and roars. He hands his crown to Carlos and his jacket to Jay.

"Wait, Ben! No!" Carlos calls as Ben jumps into the water.

"Ben! Ben! Ben! Ben!" Evie and Jay call.

"Mal, Val, Uma! Stop! Back down!" Ben orders.

"What are you gonna do, Ben? Splash me?" Uma asks.

"That's enough! It's got to stop! This isn't the answer! The fighting has got to stop! Nobody wins this way! We have to listen and respect each other. It won't be easy, but let's be brave enough to try. Uma, I know you want what is best for the Isle. Help me make a difference," Ben says as he raises a hand out to Uma. Mal hisses. Uma then raises a tentacle and I roar. Uma drops Ben's ring in his hand before she swam away. Jay and Carlos drop a ladder for Ben. I land on deck and Jay walks towards me. As I land the green mist comes out and I'm transformed back to human. I'm in my beautiful dress again with my hair braided and in a bun. I run and hug Jay while he spins me around.

"I definitely did not know I could do that," I say to Jay as he sets me down.

"There you go," We hear Beast say he helps Ben over the rails. Mal then lands and transform back. She smiles and waves at Ben. Evie and I run up to her as she is escorted down the stairs.

"So, I did not know that we could do that," Mal says to me.

"Tell me about it. That makes two of us," I say.

"Shall we?" Evie asks Mal.

"We shall," Mal answers and they walk to Ben while I walk over to Jay. "Hi." Ben then pulls Mal in for a kiss. Jay does the same with me.

"All right, all right, all right, all right," Carlos says as he grabs Ben's and Jay's shoulders.

"I owe you guys so much," Ben says looking at all of us.

"Yeah," Evie and I say.

"Really," Carlos says.

"Yep," Jay says.

"You got that right," Carlos says.

"Just a little bit," Evie says.

"If there is anything that you need or anything I can do for you..." Ben says while Evie and I share a look.

"Um, actually, there is, Ben. I know a girl who would really love to come to Auradon. It's Drizella's daughter, Dizzy. She's like a little sister to me," Evie explains.

"Then she should come," Ben says.

"Okay! Okay, great! Actually, um... Ben, there's a lot of kids who would really love it here in Auradon. Kids just like us, who also deserve a second chance. Can I maybe get you a list?" Evie says as we laugh.

"Yes, yes! Absolutely, please," Ben says.

"Great," Evie says.

"M'lady Mal, we found your spellbook below deck. Uma had it," An usher says as he gives it Mal.

"Ooh. Um..." Mal says as she looks at the book. Mal looks at me and I nod. "You know, this seems like the kind of thing that belongs in the hands of Fairy Godmother. Fairy Godmother?"

"That's me, thank you. Mm-hmm. This belongs in the museum. It does, yes, and I'm gonna take it," Fairy Godmother says.

"Go for it. I'm not gonna be needing it anymore," Mal explains.