Balance

Chapter 13- Cotillion

Jay and I took a limo to the boat. He surprised me with a corsage and roses when we met. I kept them below deck with my jacket. Jay and I arrived just in time to catch Jane and Carlos. I grinned at the two. Carlos finally wasn't whining about Jane's beauty anymore. The girl ran up to me and hugged me.

A trumpet fanfare blared through the loud air. The DJ stopped. Lumiere stood at the top of the stairs.

"The Future Lady Mal."

Mal walked out, shivering. She smiled when Lumiere said something to her. Evie clapped for her, and the rest joined in. King Adam helped her down the stairs. Evie and I walked up to Mal. We led her toward our group.

Another trumpet fanfare blared, but this time filling the quiet air.

"King Benjamin!" Lumiere announced.

Ben bowed to Mal after he walked down the stairs. Mal bowed, making me smile. There wasn't a smile on Ben's face, making me worried.

"Mal, I wish I had time to explain..."

I gasped in disbelief when I saw Uma appear. Jay tightened his grip around my waist. Ben walked up to her. My body filled with chills. Mal looked back at me. She looked like she was about to cry.

Ben kissed the ring on Uma's finger. His ring. It was supposed to be on Mal's. Ben walked up to Mal, holding Uma's hand.

"I'm sorry. It all happened so fast. Something happened to me when I was on the Isle with Uma. A connection," Ben admitted.

"What are you saying?" Mal asked.

"I'm saying-"

"It was love!" Uma gushed, grinning. "It was. I just—I realized how alike Ben and I are. You know?"

"We are," Ben whispered.

"Ben," Mal said. "Ben. Did you go back for her?"

"He didn't have to. I dove through the barrier before it closed, and I'm an excellent swimmer," Uma admitted.

"You are."

"Thank you." Uma giggled. She turned to her enemy. "Listen, Mal." Uma took Mal's hand in hers, making Mal freeze. "I just really want to thank you. I do. For everything." Uma hugged her. A little part of me wanted to shove her off of the boat.

"Don't you see, Mal? You were right! You knew that we weren't meant to be together. That's why you never told me that you loved me," Ben said, hitting a low blow.

Mal was speechless. Panic filled her eyes. She was losing him. The one person she loved. He was the reason she opened her heart to others. Why was he throwing it away now?

The two danced to the instrumental song of Kiss the Girl. I stood there. I didn't know what to do. Ben was truly in love with Uma. I closed my eyes. I smelled something, making me confused. I took another deep breath. Something was radiating off of Ben.

"Not too thrilled I risked my life for him," Carlos spat.

"We're here, Mal," I mumbled.

"Let's get out of here," Jay decided.

"Okay," Mal said immediately after.

Jane ran up to Lumiere. We walked up the stairs, Mal crying. The music stopped, making us freeze.

"And now, for the unveiling of King Ben's masterpiece. Designed especially for his lady."

A glass picture was revealed, making me grin. Mal looked beautiful, and they captured how she looked to him: beautiful. Ben wouldn't show this now if he was truly with Uma. Something was wrong with Ben, and it had all to do with Uma.

"Cover that back up!" Uma demanded.

"I will not," Lumiere refused.

"Um... Why don't you show everyone the present you have for me, Ben?" Uma suggested, recovering from her fury.

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

"Son-"

"Not now, Dad," Ben roared, startling even me. He had a temper at times, a trait from the magic of the enchantress, but he was never this angry. "So as my gift to her, I'm bringing down the barrier once and for all."

"Absolutely not," I growled.

"Fairy Godmother. Bring down the barrier," Ben instructed.

"I most certainly will not," Fairy Godmother said, shaking her head.

"I am your king!"

"Obey him!"

The smell was finally clear to me. "Ben's been spelled. Love spell, your mother's, Mal," I explained. Mochi transformed into my hand.

"Ben," Mal said, catching his attention. "Ben." Mal walked up to him. "Look at me."

"No, look at me," Uma insisted. "Look at me. You love me, remember?"

"No, you don't."

"Yes, you do!"

"Ben, look at me," Mal insisted.

"Bring down the barrier now!" Uma snapped.

"I do not take orders from you," Fairy Godmother snapped.

"Ben, I never told you that I loved you because I thought I wasn't good enough. And I thought that it was only a matter of time that you realized that yourself. But Ben, that's me. I'm part Isle and part Auradon."

"Ben, eyes over here."

"And ben, you've always known what we were and who we can be."

"Don't listen to her."

"Ben, I know what love feels like now." Mal smiled. "Of course I love you. Ben, I've always loved you." Mal kissed him sweetly. I felt something shatter, and I grinned. The spell had been broken. The spark in Ben's eyes returned.

Ben smiled. "Mal?"

"True love's kiss," Evie said, looking at me.

"Works every time," we finished.

Uma had had enough. "Ugh! Give it to me!"

I clicked my staff on the floor. My magic sent Uma flying toward the railing. Uma looked at me in disbelief. I was livid and too angry to care if I hurt her.

"Wait, stop!" Mal screamed. "Uma, I know you. You are so much more than just a villain. 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."

Uma's necklace glowed, making me worried. She grinned, hopped over the railing, and jumped into the water.