༢ ͎۪۫ ༊ ❛ 𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦 ❜
▬▬▬ MOVIE ONE, VOLUME ONE ━ˎ˗
. . . ➾ ˗ˏˋ beneath the crown ࿐ྂ
𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲, coronation day ▬▬▬

      𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 everyone had awaited with bated breath had finally arrived — Coronation Day. This wasn't just any celebration; it was the dawn of a new era as Ben prepared to take the throne. The entire kingdom of Auradon buzzed with anticipation, each citizen eager to witness the crowning of their future king.

     Banners hung from every window, flowers decorated every step, and the air itself seemed to sparkle with hope. Yet, while the kingdom rejoiced, a group of villain kids harbored a plan of their own.

      Elizabeth stood off to the side, nervously adjusting her dress, her fingers toying with the fabric as she tried to calm her racing heart. She scanned the crowd, aware that all eyes would be on them and knowing that her mother's watchful gaze would be among them.

     The weight of the moment settled on her as she thought of what was to come, and she felt an anxious thrill shiver through her.

     "You look amazing, Liz," Evie's voice broke through her thoughts, her smile warm and reassuring as she noticed Elizabeth's jitters.

      Elizabeth managed a small smile, letting go of her dress and straightening up. "Thanks, Evie. You look incredible too," she replied, trying to draw strength from her friend. She took a steadying breath. "So... are you ready for this?"

     Evie hesitated, her confidence wavering just enough for Elizabeth to catch it. "As ready as I'll ever be. We all know what's riding on this," she said, glancing around at the rest of their group.

     Elizabeth nodded, her gaze flicking to Jay, who offered her a quick grin and a wink. "Lizzie and I will handle the distractions," Jay said, cracking his knuckles with a confidence that helped ground her. He gave her an encouraging nudge, their bond adding a comforting layer to the tension thrumming between them.

     "And Evie and I will make sure we blend in with the crowd," Carlos added, trying to hide his nerves.

     Elizabeth nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in her throat as she held her hands together, picking at the freshly painted polish on her nails.

      Just then, the crowd's energy shifted as the royal carriage arrived, all attention snapping toward Ben and Mal as they stepped out. Mal's dress shimmered in deep, regal purple, contrasting beautifully with Ben's royal blue suit, adorned with golden detailing that glinted in the sunlight.

     The two looked like a perfect fairy-tale couple, and the crowd erupted in applause, filling the air with cheers and whistles as they made their way up the grand staircase where Belle and Beast waited, all under the watchful gaze of the assembled dignitaries and guests.

      The trumpets blared in unison as Ben and Mal stopped in front of Belle and Beast. With gentle words exchanged, Belle and Beast stepped aside, and Ben turned to Mal, whispering something before moving toward the ceremonial platform, giving her a last look before he took his place.

      Elizabeth, along with Evie, Jay, and Carlos, stood in the crowd, each of them sharing a look, feeling the weight of the clock ticking down. Elizabeth caught Jay's eye, his familiar grin settling her nerves.

     Jay reached out to briefly squeeze her hand, his thumb brushing against her palm in a gesture that was both grounding and comforting. Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm but quickly turned back to the ceremony, forcing herself to focus.

      Inside, the choir filled the air with ethereal harmonies, their voices ringing as Ben approached the Fairy Godmother, who gracefully removed Beast's crown and placed it gently on Ben's head. Fairy Godmother smiled down at him, pride glowing in her eyes, and with a nod from his father, Ben rose, turning to face the crowd.

      Beast carefully lifted the glass casing around the wand, the emblem of Auradon's magic and peace. Elizabeth's heart raced as she caught Mal's glance, their silent communication thick with the weight of their mission. Mal's expression betrayed a fleeting hint of hesitation, but she quickly steeled herself, focusing her gaze back on the wand.

      Belle took the wand, passing it to the Fairy Godmother, who held it high as she began the solemn oath. "Do you solemnly swear to govern the peoples of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?"

      "I do solemnly swear," Ben replied, his voice steady as he knelt before her.

      A faint flicker of uncertainty crossed Mal's face, her eyes glistening as she took in the scene. She hadn't anticipated how deeply seeing Ben in this moment would affect her. Watching him, she realized that maybe she couldn't go through with it — and she suspected that the others, her friends, felt the same.

      "Then it is my honor and my joy to bless our new king," Fairy Godmother declared, raising the wand.

      But the room's collective gasp pierced the air as the wand was suddenly snatched from her hand. The gathered citizens froze, murmurs of confusion rippling through the room. Elizabeth felt her heart drop, her eyes widening as she saw Jane clutching the wand tightly, a wild look in her eyes.

      "Child, what are you doing?" Fairy Godmother yelled as she ran down the steps in attempt to get the wand.

      "If you won't make me beautiful, I'll do it myself!" Jane shouted; her voice frantic as she struggled to hold onto the wand as it felt out of control.

      Ben rushed down from the platform, reaching for Mal as Jane unleashed another flurry of magic, which only sent Elizabeth's heart pounding harder. She found herself shouting, "Mal, be careful!" The sight of her friends in the thick of the chaos filled her with a mix of terror and awe.

      Just then, Mal ripped the wand from her hands and held it up with a tight grip — Jane quickly running away as everyone gasped and took a step back from her, the VKs making their way down to Mal.

      "Mal, give me the wand," Ben said gently, extending a hand to her.

      "Stand back!" Mal's voice was firm, her posture rigid as she clutched the wand tighter. Ben took a hesitant step forward, worry etched on his face, and Mal's voice rang out again, louder this time. "Ben, I said stand back!"

      Audrey, her voice dripping with anger, broke through the silence. "I told you —"

      But before she could finish, Mal raised the wand in her direction, making Audrey recoil in fear as her grandmother and Chad quickly pulled her back. Mal turned, facing Ben once more, her expression defiant yet laced with sadness as the other VKs moved to stand by her side, their loyalty clear.

      "Let's go," she said firmly.

      "Revenge time," Jay added, casting a glance back at Elizabeth, who felt her heart twist. She wasn't sure where this was going, but she knew their plan had taken a drastic turn.

      Ben met Mal's gaze, a mixture of confusion and heartache in his eyes. "You really want to do this?"

      Mal's face softened, torn between the love and loyalty that had fueled her decisions so far and the undeniable truth of her situation. She took a shaky breath, finally voicing what had been weighing on all of them. "We don't have a choice, Ben. Our parents —"

      "Your parents made their choices," Ben replied gently. "Now make yours."

      The room seemed to hold its breath as Mal took in his words, her gaze shifting from Ben to his parents, then to the Fairy Godmother and finally back to her friends. Slowly, her face softened, the harshness in her eyes fading as realization dawned.

      "I think..." she said softly, the words slipping out as if they surprised even her, "I want to be good."