Part 3| Chapter 3: The Issue of the Isle

"Alright, boys. Let's hit the road," Carlos told the Smee twins.

"You're gonna see him soon, okay?" Mal assured Celia. "Come on."

"Do you have everything?" Lady Tremaine asked Dizzy.

"Yes, I have everything," Dizzy replied.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Granny."

"Oh, really?" Her grandmother pulled her glue gun from behind her back, a possession which Dizzy valued greatly.

"My glue gun!"

"I don't know what you're going to do without me," Lady Tremaine said stiffly.

"I'll miss you," Dizzy told her before hugging her.

"Go on, go on."

"Goodbye, Granny."

"When you're off at your posh school, don't forget about me, alright?" Anthony told Andrew.

"Of course not," Andrew said to his brother. "And one day, you'll get to come, too."

Anthony scoffed. "I doubt it. But while you're there, enjoy every second. For both of us."

Andrew hugged his brother. "I promise."

"Eww, get off me," Anthony said, though even he didn't want him to let go.

But they had to, and the brothers were separated for the first time in their lives. Andrew didn't think it would be so hard, but y/n being there made it a bit easier.

"Here, let me get this off you," Mal offered, trying to take Celia's bag. "Oh. Okay," she said when she just dumped it in the trunk.

"Let's go and do... this," Ben tried to say to her, but she just walked away.

Y/n stifled a laugh as they all shuffled into the car.

"So, as soon as we get to Auradon, you have to try ice cream," Evie said to Dizzy.

"And go swimming?!" Dizzy exclaimed.

"I can take you to the Enchanted Lake," Evie offered.

"I can't believe I get to live with you in your very own castle!" Dizzy squealed.

"It's just a little starter castle," Evie replied modestly.

"Great grip. You play sports?" Jay asked Squirmy from the front seats, who was gripping onto Jay like a grapple hook.

"Here. Go on. Trust me on this." Carlos gave Squeaky a peanut butter cup.

When the kid bit into it, his eyes widened in delight.

"I know. Dig in, dig in," Carlos said, patting his back.

"You're going to be a wise and brave king," Celia predicted from her cards.

"He already is," y/n said with a smile.

"See? The cards never lie." Then, she held out her hands, gesturing for him to pay her.

"Ah," he realised before placing a note in her hand, to which her eyes lit up. "And you must be Andrew," Ben said to Andrew.

"Has y/n mentioned me before?" he asked, perhaps a little hopefully.

"Yeah, when she was deciding who to bring to Auradon. Why, you guys got history?"

Andrew was about to say something, when y/n hit his leg. "Don't you dare," she warned.

He chuckled. "Alright."

They crossed the border, but before it closed, Hades, one of the most dangerous villains on the Isle, stuck his hand through it, creating a hole with his ember.

"It's Hades. Stop the car, he's trying to escape!" Evie exclaimed.

"I am a god! I don't belong here!" Hades shouted.

Everyone got out of the car, except for the kids who were coming to Auradon. However, he zapped Ben, Jay, Carlos, and Andrew, who tried to run towards him.

"No!" y/n exclaimed before transforming into a phoenix. Soon, Mal changed into a dragon and flew by her side.

"Come on, girls! Blast him!" Dizzy encouraged.

While Mal sent flames at him, y/n couldn't bring herself to do it.

"What's the matter? You don't want to hurt me?" Hades taunted.

At his words, she sent a gust of blue fire at him, and he retaliated by zapping both Mal and y/n with the ember, but not without getting slightly scorched.

With a final blow, y/n knocked him back into the Isle, breaking the connection between them and the ember.

The two girls descended to the ground before transforming back into their human form, clutching their stomachs.

"Are you okay?" Ben asked y/n.

"Are you okay?" Evie asked Mal.

"No. He was draining all of my magic with the ember and I felt... all of my power slipping away," Mal said through ragged breaths.

"Y/n?" Ben asked, but she was too stunned—and too hurt—to speak.

"You're safe. He's back where he belongs," Evie assured the girls.

"Yeah, for now," Mal said.

"We should go," Carlos said.

"Okay," Mal agreed.

Ben helped y/n into the car, her face pale from the encounter with Hades. Though why it affected her so much more than it affected Mal, Ben could not understand.

*** 

The moment y/n and Ben arrived at the castle, he took her to their room and laid her on the bed.

"Ben, I'm fine—" she tried to say, only to receive a "shush" from him.

He got some water and ice, setting the water on the bedside before icing the red part of her arm.

Y/n clicked her tongue. "It's really no big deal."

"I don't like seeing you hurt," he grumbled, focused on healing her.

Y/n ran her free hand through his cascading brown locks, admiring his prince-like beauty. "I don't deserve you," she whispered.

Ben caught her hand. "I don't deserve you, not the other way around." Then, he brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. "Never."

He placed her hand back on his head, to which y/n chuckled. Though it hurt to laugh after she felt like her very life force was being drained, she couldn't help it around this golden boy she fell in love with.

After Ben was done icing her arm, he brought the water glass to her lips and helped her drink the water. After she was done, he moved beside her on the bed and draped the covers over them before wrapping his arms around her and allowing them to fall into a quick but restful sleep.

***

"I think we all know why we're here," Belle said.

After y/n and Ben woke up, they met with Fairy Godmother, Belle, Beast, and, Mal, who was their Royal Advisor.

"The people are in a panic about Hades. He almost got out. Who knows what he would've done if he had escaped? We can't risk having another villain on the loose," she continued.

"I really feel like this is my fault," y/n said guiltily. "I'm supposed to protect Auradon."

"You did. You do protect Auradon," Ben assured her, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"Every time we open the barrier, we're exposed to danger. Maleficent, Uma, Hades," Belle listed.

Ben suddenly recieved a call, which he stepped away from the group to take. Returning with a grave face, he informed them, "Maleficent's sceptre and the Queen's crown have been stolen."

"Uma," Beast immediately said.

"We don't know that," y/n replied, just as quickly. "We really don't," she added in a softer voice.

"She's right, Dad," Ben said.

"When the people hear this, they will never wanna leave their houses. What do we tell them?" Belle asked. "Y/n... What do we do? How do we keep evil out of Auradon?"

Everyone turned to the future Queen of Auradon. An idea formed in her mind, a calculated one, a solution that would safely regulate the movement between the Isle and Auradon. However, before she could say her thoughts, Mal interjected.

"I think that there's only... one way to guarantee their safety. And I think that there... can't be any more going in and out. I think that we have to close the barrier... forever," Mal stated heavily.

"No," y/n said. "No, if we get more guards and station them at the posts, perhaps make an organised travel schedule..."

Mal shook her head. "You know that villains will take any chance to break the rules. So, we can't give them a chance."

"No," Ben said, walking away.

"Son," Beast called.

"No," he repeated.

"Ben," y/n said, walking after him.

"No, no, no."

"Ben. Hey." She grabbed his arms and looked him in the eyes, however much it pained her to see the hurt on his face.

"I do not want to take away your dream, because it was so beautiful, and it is why I fell in love with you. But as king and as queen, what's our duty?" she asked him, her voice full of emotion.

"To protect Auradon," he answered. "But you know what this would mean? All those kids. Are you prepared for that?"

Y/n nodded slowly. "I know what it means. And, no, I'm not prepared for it. I just think that we have no other choice. I am just as devastated as you are. The dream meant so much to me. It was something we shared, together."

"Son," Beast said.

"Mal's right," Belle added.

"I just don't think that we would forgive ourselves if something terrible happened," Mal said. "I'm sorry, you guys."

Y/n nodded sadly. "You're right. Besides, it's for the best."

***

Y/n and Mal left the palace and made their way to Evie's 4 Hearts, Evie's castle.

"Hey, y/n, why don't I just go and tell her about everything?" Mal said.

"Sure, but why?" y/n asked.

"I'm sure you'd wanna stay with Ben. You know, after everything that's happened. Besides, it'll be easier if only one of us has to do it."

Y/n nodded, though she felt like something was off. Still, she didn't mind—she really wanted to spend some time alone with Ben.

"Alright. You take care of it, and I'll see you at Jane's birthday, okay?" y/n said.

Mal nodded. "Gotcha."

The twins split ways, and y/n went back to the castle, already thinking about how she was going to comfort Ben after his dream—and hers—was just crushed to pieces.