Work Text:
"You lied to all of us," Evie whispered, her voice breaking and her eyes glassy. "You lied to me."
Mal knew she had let her down, that nothing she said would fix it. That once again, in trying to do the right thing, she had messed everything up. She couldn’t even offer an explanation, no matter how futile it might have been, with her gang and Ben turned to stone right in front of her. She was alone, with Audrey somewhere out there being consumed by her darkest desires, guided by her mother's scepter.
Carlos's sad face near Dude, Jay frowning. Ben looked confused, to which Mal scoffed and muttered a thanks for not helping. Yes, it had been her decision, but Ben was supposed to be the king; why would he ask her to make such decisions? Then she looked at Evie, even as a statue, she could feel the pain in Evie's gaze. Honestly, Mal would have preferred Evie to keep yelling at her instead of being in this state.
Mal stood in front of the blue princess. The air was thick with tension and fear, every second stretching into an eternity as Evie remained still, her body turned to stone. The fairy raised her hand to the designer's face, feeling her hands tremble as she looked at the petrified version of her best friend, her confidante... her love.
How messed up it was that she could only admit it when not only was Evie a statue reflecting hopelessness and anguish, but just minutes before the spell hit, Evie didn’t want to know anything more about her. Mal needed what she had just thought of to work; she couldn’t allow Evie to stay like this, not if she couldn’t stop Audrey. She couldn’t leave her like this without at least trying to undo the curse.
It didn’t matter what this meant for her relationship with Ben, it didn’t matter the chaos still looming over Auradon. The only thing that mattered in that moment was Evie. Without thinking of the consequences, Mal leaned in and, with a trembling whisper, her lips brushed against Evie's in a soft kiss. The world around her seemed to stop. The cold stone beneath her lips began to warm, and in the blink of an eye, Mal felt the warmth and softness of Evie’s skin return. Evie blinked, responding for a moment, until she opened her eyes, finding herself face to face with Mal.
Still a bit dazed by the softness of Evie's lips, Mal snapped back to reality when the princess stepped back. Mal saw Evie touch her lips and just wanted to pull her close again, but she knew Evie would only push her away. They looked at each other, both lost in their own thoughts. The weight of the moment was overwhelming. Evie couldn’t process what had happened. One moment she could only feel the pain of betrayal, then absolutely nothing, and then all the warmth in the world, she felt loved until reality hit her. Mal had given Evie a true love's kiss, and that had broken the curse. But that wasn’t the only crushing truth: Mal was engaged to Ben, and yet, she had tried to save Evie.
The truth was, they couldn’t just stand there staring at each other without words. Audrey was still out there, with the scepter in her hands, and Celia was still kidnapped. The guilt and urgency mixed in Mal and Evie’s hearts.
“Mal, we need to talk,” Evie demanded, trying to sound firm. But the tremor in her voice betrayed her; she couldn’t think about Audrey. She could only think about how Mal opted to close the barrier. How it wasn’t the Council's idea, but hers. After all the times they stayed up late talking, making plans so the other VKs would have a chance, so they could escape the toxic environment on the Isle. No one would ever be able to leave or return again.
“We don’t have time for that,” Mal quickly replied, trying to ignore the pang of guilt that pierced her chest. But she couldn’t argue about this now, seeing Evie had at least returned to being human and hearing her heartbeat, she had to stop Audrey before things got worse.
Evie let out a bitter laugh. “You always do the same thing, don’t you? Avoiding things. It’s really your talent.”
Mal turned on her heels to face Evie, her gaze full of pain. “I know it was wrong to lie to you... lie to all of you,” she admitted, defeated, “but E, you don’t understand the situation I’m in. They have expectations of me as their damned next queen, and I know firsthand what it’s like to grow up on the Isle and how they need a chance and that you want the best for them. But opening the barrier almost let Hades out, and what if it had been another villain? Your mother? Cruella? Jafar? I know you want the best for all the VKs. But it’s always been my job to protect our gang.”
Neither missed how Mal hadn’t included Ben in her group, how she still didn’t consider him part of her family.
Evie remained silent, her heart torn between anger and sadness. Finally, she whispered, “I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
Mal nodded, accepting the responsibility for her mistakes even though Evie’s words broke her heart. “I’m going after Audrey,” she said with determination. “You can come if you want, or not. If you don’t, please find a safe place.”
Without waiting for a response, Mal turned and began to walk away with determined steps. Evie, after a second of doubt, followed her, hurt but never willing to let Mal fight alone. They both knew that what had just happened wouldn’t be resolved easily and that there were still too many things left unsaid, but there were more urgent matters that needed their attention. They left the forest, arriving at the courtyard.
Uma and Harry Hook were cautiously walking around. Uma, upon seeing Mal, frowned with distrust. “I knew you hadn’t changed, Mal,” she spat, her eyes blazing with fury.
Mal, without stopping, glanced at her. “I’m going to fix this,” she replied coldly, walking past Uma.
Uma looked at them curiously, wanting to know what they were going to do, knowing that more than half of Auradon was frozen.
“Wasn’t Blue frozen?” Uma asked Harry, noticing how Evie, still following Mal with quick steps, seemed angry. Harry just shrugged, also watching as the girls headed toward where Audrey was supposed to be. They started walking in that direction as well. Uma was still angry with Mal, but the situation surpassed their enmity status. They needed to stop Audrey.
Finally, Mal and Evie arrived at the front of the castle where Audrey awaited on the terrace, with the scepter in hand, her face distorted by a mix of power and madness. She aimed the green energy of the scepter toward the sky.
“What’s the plan, Mal?” Evie asked Mal, but fell silent as she saw Mal didn’t hesitate for a second. Her body began to transform, her eyes lit up with an emerald glow, and within seconds, the figure of a majestic purple dragon stood where the young woman had been. The dragon’s eyes met Evie’s, and Evie nodded as Mal soared into the skies.
“How does it feel to lose for once, Mal?” Audrey screamed maniacally upon seeing the dragon, invoking the scepter’s power against the dragon's fire.
The scepter's power clashed with the dragon's ancient strength. It was a fierce battle, Mal could feel the scepter gaining the upper hand, pushing her back, and nearly reaching her body.
“Come on, M, I know you can do it!” Evie shouted, trying to encourage Mal, even as she felt her nails digging into her palm, clenching her fists so tightly out of nerves. Mal had to win; she couldn’t lose her.
Mal heard Evie, and with renewed strength, she attacked. Searching for another approach, she tried to combine her magic with her dragon form. She thought that after all, the scepter was her mother’s, so it had to respond to her blood. Instead of fighting, she tried to make the fire accept the magic. The scepter’s power was overwhelming, but Mal accepted the magic, draining the scepter.
The last thing Mal saw before passing out was Audrey falling to the ground with the inactive scepter. The dragon simultaneously collapsed with a thud that shook the ground. The sky returned to its normal night color, and the curse over Auradon that had turned people to stone or under Audrey’s control was broken.
Evie, with her heart in her throat, ran to where Mal had fallen. Smoke began to envelop the imposing figure, and soon, the dragon disappeared, leaving Mal in her human form but still unconscious and covered in bruises.
“Mal!” Evie cried out, falling to her knees beside her friend, her love, her everything. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to shake Mal to wake her, but there was no response. Desperation took hold of her. “Please, wake up!”. Evie knelt beside her fairy, her trembling hands gently stroking Mal’s forehead as tears freely streamed down her cheeks.
The wind whispered through the trees, and the air seemed heavy with a stillness that hadn’t been there before. Uma, Harry, Jay, and Carlos came running, their faces pale as they saw Evie crying over Mal’s motionless body. Jay knelt beside her, his voice filled with concern. “We need to get help.”
But Evie couldn’t move, couldn’t think of anything except the fact that Mal had just absorbed dark energy, had fallen too many meters down for a normal person to survive, and was covered in bruises and wasn’t waking up. The only thing Evie was aware of doing was holding on to Mal and her steady heartbeat; Jay’s words barely reached her ears.
“I’m going to find Fairy Godmother or Jane,” Carlos said quickly, nervous but eager to help. Jay nodded, carefully lifting Mal’s motionless body with almost reverent care, his face filled with worry. He waited impatiently, hoping for a plan to get Mal the help she needed.
“We need to find Fairy Godmother,” Evie said quickly, her voice trembling. She couldn’t lose Mal, not after everything they had been through. Not after the last thing she had said to her was that she didn’t know if she could forgive her.
Before Jay could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Ben came running out of the forest, his breath ragged and his face twisted with worry. When he saw Mal unconscious in Jay’s arms, his heart stopped for a moment.
“Is she...? What happened?” Ben reformulated, a mix of panic and confusion in his voice. His gaze shifted to Evie, Jay, Uma, and Harry, the only ones who seemed to have witnessed what had happened.
Evie barely lifted her gaze to look at him. “This is no time for explanations, Ben. We need to get Fairy Godmother,” she shouted, her voice breaking, reflecting the fear she felt deep inside.
Ben hesitated, his eyes darting between Evie’s anguished face and Mal’s still body. He didn’t know what to do, but before he could respond, Fairy Godmother, along with Jane and Carlos, came running toward them. Fairy Godmother surveyed the scene gravely, her eyes quickly assessing Mal’s condition. “We need to get her to a dormitory,” she ordered, her voice firm, though there was a hint of concern as she took in the state of the VK leader.
Ben stepped forward, his face determined. “We’ll take her to the castle. She’ll be better cared for and more comfortable there.”
But Evie wasn’t willing to give in, her determination as strong as her desperation. “We’re at Auradon Prep, and Mal and I still have our things in our dorm room. We can’t waste time taking her all the way to your castle.”
Ben remained silent, frustration building inside him. He didn’t like that Evie was making decisions about what should be done with Mal, especially when he was her fiancé. But the fierceness in Evie’s eyes made him hesitate. He knew Evie was right, but he couldn’t help feeling like he was losing control over something.
Before Ben could respond, Jay intervened, his tone calm but firm. “Evie’s right, Ben. It’s closer, and Mal needs treatment now.”
Ben clenched his fists but grudgingly nodded, knowing he had lost. “Fine, but we can’t stay there long. The castle is still the safest place.”
Evie didn’t reply, just nodded, and Jay began to carry Mal to the dormitory, with Carlos, Evie, and Ben following closely behind.
As they walked through the hallways of Auradon Prep, memories of the past few days flashed through Evie’s mind like a movie, each image more painful than the last. The arrival of the other four VKs, the fight with Hades, Ben’s marriage proposal, Mal’s lie about the barrier, returning to the Isle, the kiss that had broken the spell, and the bitter confrontation that had taken place afterward. It all swirled together in a whirlwind of emotions, and Evie felt like she was on the verge of collapse.
They reached Evie and Mal’s dorm, and carefully, they laid Mal down on her bed. Fairy Godmother entered behind them, waving her wand over Mal with precise movements. Evie stood at the edge of the bed, watching every gesture of Fairy Godmother, trying to discern the diagnosis.
Finally, Fairy Godmother stopped moving and looked at them. “Mal is very weak, but her life is not in danger,” she said calmly, though her expression remained serious. “She’ll need to rest and recover, but she should wake up."
Evie and the boys exhaled a sigh of relief. Evie sat in one of the chairs beside the bed, her body still tense. Ben, though also relieved, couldn’t shake the knot in his stomach. He wasn’t as oblivious as he might seem—something had happened after he turned to stone. From what he saw when he was un-petrified, he had been the last, after Jay and Carlos, and he wondered how Evie seemed to have been beside Mal in the confrontation if she had also been turned to stone.
Still, in the room, they remained expectant, watching as the Fairy Godmother continued her examination, seeming to scan Mal with her wand. The sound of held breaths broke the silence as Mal lay unconscious on the bed. Evie couldn’t take her eyes off Mal’s pale face, and though the Fairy Godmother said she would wake up, Evie’s worry persisted.
Finally, the Fairy Godmother straightened and let out a heavy sigh. "From what can be observed, based on her blood levels, Mal drained her magic and absorbed the scepter’s during the battle," she said in a low, reflective voice. "As a dark fairy, her drained cells should start absorbing the scepter's magic without harming her. She might not wake up due to extreme exhaustion, but I can’t be sure without consulting some books. I need to investigate further."
Evie, whose mind couldn’t stop working, frowned as she thought about what the Fairy Godmother had just said. "Magic is an integral part of Mal," she reflected aloud. "If she was using all her power at its maximum, that could have caused some kind of total shutdown in her body, like an overloaded circuit, and the cells would take time to regenerate or recharge the magic since it's too much at once."
The Fairy Godmother looked at her in surprise, her eyes shining with a glimmer of admiration. "In theory, I believe that’s correct, Evie," she responded with an approving tone. "My idea is that slowly, the cells will recharge again. For now, all we can do is monitor her and wait for her to wake up on her own."
Ben, who had been listening with a frown, intervened, his voice full of determination. "What if a kiss could break the spell? After all, the kiss of true love has power in all cases, doesn’t it?"
Evie couldn’t help but roll her eyes, a mix of disbelief and exasperation rising within her. "Ben, the problem here isn’t a spell that breaks with a kiss," she replied with a biting tone. "Mal’s body short-circuited Ben; she’s exhausted. A kiss isn’t going to recharge her magic or make her wake up immediately."
Ben looked at her with a deepening frown, clearly annoyed by her tone. But before he could say anything else, the Fairy Godmother intervened with a conciliatory gesture. "Evie might be right, Ben. However," she added with a slight smile, "there’s no harm in trying. Sometimes, magic can respond to the people we love."
Evie’s heart skipped a beat. Though her reason told her that a kiss from Ben wouldn’t change anything, she couldn’t help a deep, visceral fear of what might happen if the spell reacted somehow. After all, no one knew how Mal’s kiss had broken the stone spell that had imprisoned her. Mal kissed her, not Ben. Mal loved Evie.
Ben, without waiting for further objections, leaned over Mal, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and determination. Evie held her breath, her chest tight with anxiety. Ben lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to Mal’s.
For a moment that seemed eternal, the entire room seemed to freeze. Everyone waited, each hoping for some sign, some movement—or in Evie’s case, hoping nothing would happen. Evie secretly exhaled when nothing did. Mal’s body remained still, her eyes closed, and the room sank back into silence.
Ben pulled away, disappointment clearly reflected on his face. He looked at the Fairy Godmother, as if seeking some explanation, but she only shook her head. "There doesn’t seem to be any reaction," she said in a calm tone. "All we can do is wait and see what happens over the next 24 hours and then re-evaluate."
Inside, despite the seriousness of the situation, Evie couldn't help but feel a wave of relief, a selfish and repressed happiness struggling to break through. She knew she couldn't deny that she was glad Ben's kiss had had no effect.
Even so, she knew this wasn’t the time for realizations about her feelings. She couldn’t afford to think about that now. There was too much at stake, and what mattered most was ensuring Mal would be okay. They needed to talk, and for that, she needed Mal to be conscious.
“So, is there anything we can do to help?” Jay asked, still nervous about seeing their leader in this state.
The Fairy Godmother sighed and shook her head. "Don't worry, kids. As I said, the only thing we can do is wait. I'll search the ancient texts to see if there's anything else that could help us."
Carlos, who had been silent throughout the entire exchange, approached the bed and placed a hand on Evie’s shoulder, seeing how she was still holding one of Mal’s hands and looking at the fairy as if she might disappear. “Mal has overcome worse. She’s the strongest of us all. She’ll wake up in a few hours.”
Evie nodded, trying to stay positive. “I know,” she murmured. “She has to wake up.”
Ben observed the scene, his mind wrestling with confusion, worry for Mal, and frustration over not being able to do anything. He also hated how out of place he felt. The Rotten Four had always been closer than just friends, but he couldn’t help thinking that he should be the one holding Mal’s hand. But now wasn’t the time to start a fight.
The silence in the room was abruptly broken by a knock on the door. The group turned toward the entrance. The door slowly opened, revealing two guards who looked uneasy.
“King Ben,” began one of the guards in a respectful but tense tone, “we have news about Audrey... she hasn’t woken up. King Philip and Queen Aurora wish to speak with you immediately.”
The news hit like a bucket of cold water. Ben froze for a moment, his thoughts torn between his responsibilities as a leader and his concern for Mal. His gaze shifted to her, still unconscious on the bed, then to the Fairy Godmother, seeking an answer.
“Ben,” the Fairy Godmother intervened with a firm but gentle voice, “you must go. You have responsibilities as king, and Philip and Aurora have the right to know what is happening. Audrey needs attention too, and I need to investigate why she hasn’t woken up either. After all, Audrey doesn’t possess her own magic; only the scepter did.”
This time, Ben seemed ready to argue, to insist that he couldn’t leave Mal in this state, but the authoritative tone of the Fairy Godmother and his obligations finally made him nod with a resigned sigh.
“Alright,” Ben said, his voice heavy with frustration. “But I’ll return as soon as I can.”
He turned to Evie, who had been watching the scene in silence, her concern evident in every line of her face. “Evie,” he said, “take care of Mal. I… I trust you.”
Evie nodded, unable to find words, but her expression spoke for her. Ben allowed himself one last look at Mal before leaving the room with the guards and the Fairy Godmother, his back tense with the anxiety consuming him.
When the door closed behind them, only the Rotten Four remained. Jay sat beside Carlos in silence. However, he was the first to break it, trying to ease some tension for the designer.
“Mal’s going to be fine, Evs,” he said, trying to sound convincing. “You know how she is—she’s got more lives than a cat. She always gets back up.”
Evie tried to smile, but instead, a sob escaped her lips. The tears she had been holding back began to flow, and she lowered her head, covering her face with her hands. “You don’t understand…” she murmured, her voice breaking.
Carlos, always perceptive, stepped forward, frowning as he tried to piece the puzzle together. “Evie... what exactly happened after we were turned to stone?” he asked cautiously.
Evie looked up at Carlos and Jay, her tears flowing freely and her words struggling to come out. Barely audible, she spoke. "After fighting with Mal, I remember feeling cold, and everything went dark... until... Mal... she kissed me. And it broke the spell. She saved me... and all I did was tell her that I didn’t know if I could forgive her."
Jay and Carlos exchanged a look of surprise, but quickly they both moved closer to Evie, wrapping her in a strong, comforting hug. Jay, although he always seemed carefree, pressed his lips together, processing the information. Still, a question arose in his mind, though the answer seemed obvious after everything that had happened. "Evie... do you have feelings for Mal?" he asked gently.
Evie, still embraced by her friends, nodded once more, the tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. "Yes," she admitted with a lump in her throat. "I’ve always had them... but at first, I didn’t want to accept them, and then I couldn’t tell her. And now, when I need her the most, when she needs to know that she’s loved back, she’s... like this."
Jay, always the most determined of the group, pulled back slightly and looked her in the eyes. "Then, Evie," he said firmly, "maybe you should be the one to try. If a true love’s kiss can break a spell... maybe you can wake her up."
The suggestion left Evie motionless for a moment, her thoughts swirling like a whirlwind in her head. Could it really be that simple? Had she dismissed it purely out of logic when Ben suggested it, or had she just not wanted to see him do it?
Could her kiss be the key to waking Mal up? Fear and hope battled within her as her eyes settled on Mal’s soft face, her heart-shaped, rosy lips, long lashes, and her furrowed brow, even in unconsciousness.
She took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she moved closer to the bed. Jay and Carlos stepped back, giving her space, though their gazes were full of support and encouragement.
Evie leaned over Mal, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to muster all the courage she had left, and gently pressed her lips against Mal’s.
Evie’s kiss was tender, filled with all the feelings she had kept bottled up for so long, all the love she had repressed. She held her breath, hoping, praying for a sign, for any movement that would indicate Mal was coming back.
When she finally pulled away, she opened her eyes fearfully, looking at Mal’s face. For an instant that felt like an eternity, nothing happened. But then, a soft sigh escaped Mal’s lips, and her eyelids fluttered weakly, revealing bright green eyes.
"M!" Evie exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of relief and excitement as she held Mal’s hand tightly.
Jay and Carlos moved closer, their hearts leaping with joy at the slight movement from Mal. The tension in the room began to dissipate as Mal’s eyes finally opened fully.
"Evie...?" Mal murmured, her voice hoarse, her gaze still cloudy as she tried to focus on the figure in front of her.
Evie let out a tearful laugh, squeezing Mal’s hand. "Yes, it’s me," she said, her voice trembling with emotion, partially hugging Mal, not wanting to put all her weight on the girl. "You’re okay... You’re okay."
Mal tried to smile, attempting to hold Evie’s waist in the hug, though she was still disoriented. "What... what happened? The last thing I remember is... Audrey... and then everything went dark."
Evie stood up but didn’t let go of Mal’s hand. The blue princess exchanged a glance with Jay and Carlos before responding. "You faced Audrey... You absorbed all the magic from the scepter to stop her. You were unconscious for a while, but... but you’re here. That’s what matters."
Mal nodded slowly, her mind still struggling to process everything. But when her eyes met Evie’s, she remembered how Evie supported her, smiling softly at her princess, which Evie returned.
Jay, with a satisfied smile, looked at Evie and then at Mal. "Welcome back, Mal," he said with a wink. "I guess Evie has more magic than we thought."
Carlos nodded, smiling as well. "That’s right, but now we need you to fully recover, Mal. A certain princess needs you."
Mal laughed weakly, her hand gripping Evie's more tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes never leaving Evie's. And although there were still many things left to resolve, in that moment, all that mattered was that Mal was back, and that Evie had been the one to bring her back.
Mal blinked slowly, still trying to clear the fog from her mind. Her eyes wandered around the room once more, until they finally settled on Jay, Carlos, and Evie. Her friends. Her teammates. The ones who had always stood by her, even when things got complicated.
Finally, her gaze landed on Jay, who was standing near the bed.
"What happened to Audrey?" Mal asked, her voice weak but firm, despite the evident exhaustion on her face.
"She hasn't woken up," Carlos explained. "Fairy Godmother is investigating why, but for now... she remains asleep."
Mal nodded slowly, processing the information. "I see..." she murmured, her mind clearly working to understand the situation and see if she could do something.
"You need to rest, M, we'll figure out how to help Audrey later," Evie gently insisted, knowing that Mal was trying to think of what might have gone wrong.
Mal nodded, but as she regained consciousness, an invisible weight seemed to fall upon her as she remembered the decisions she had made, the things she had kept secret. She felt guilty, knowing she had hidden so much to protect them, but at the cost of their trust. With visible effort, Mal squeezed Evie's hand, as her eyes filled with remorse.
"I'm sorry," Mal began, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the barrier... about the decisions I made. I just wanted to protect you, but... I know I should have trusted you."
Jay, always the most laid-back about these things, stepped closer to Mal. "Mal, we know you were just trying to do the right thing, even if it meant carrying all the weight on your own. But... you know we're a team. You're our sister, well not Evie’s"
The group laughed at this.
Then Carlos, gently squeezing Mal's hand that he held in his own. "Jay's right," he added, his voice calm but full of conviction. "You don't have to carry it all alone, Mal. We're here for you."
Evie, who had been silent, watching Mal with a mix of love and concern, leaned in a little closer. "Don't worry about that anymore," she said softly, her eyes full of understanding. "What's important is that we're here now, together. You don't have to face it alone anymore."
Mal, feeling the support of her friends and especially Evie, felt more grateful than she could express in words.
Evie, noticing how Mal's eyelids were beginning to droop again from exhaustion, leaned in. "Everything's alright, M," she whispered tenderly, her hand gently brushing Mal's forehead. "You can go back to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
Mal nodded weakly, her eyes already closing as fatigue overtook her once more. "Thank you..." she murmured softly, her voice fading as she drifted off to sleep.
Evie watched as Mal's breathing became deeper and more regular. Jay and Carlos also remained silent, respecting the moment, but their expressions showed palpable relief. For now, Mal was safe, she had woken up and remembered what happened, and that was all that mattered.
Evie turned to Jay and Carlos, a small smile on her face. "I think she’ll be alright," she said softly, looking at Mal's calm breathing.
"She will be," Jay responded confidently. "Mal is one of the strongest people I know, and even if she wasn't, she's stubborn as hell and would do anything to come back for you."
Carlos knew it wasn't the right moment, but he couldn't help thinking about a specific issue. The youngest VK looked up at Evie, concern reflected in his eyes. "And what about Ben?" he asked, breaking the silence with the question everyone had been avoiding.
Evie let out a deep sigh and leaned back, gently bumping her head against the side of Mal's bed. She closed her eyes, "I don't know, C, I need to talk to Mal first," she murmured, without opening her eyes.
Jay, always ready to lighten the mood, stepped closer. "Well, let's be real, it’s not like they have to talk much," he said, attempting humor. "Basically, they’re already engaged with that true love's kiss."
But his words, though well-intentioned, fell like a stone in the atmosphere. Evie opened her eyes, and her gaze involuntarily shifted to Mal’s hand, where Ben's engagement ring glinted faintly under the dim light of the room. Her heart sank as she remembered that, despite everything that had happened, Mal was still engaged to Ben.
Jay, realizing the impact of his words, immediately changed his approach. He placed a firm but comforting hand on her shoulder. "Evie, listen," he began, his voice more serious now. "Mal cares about Ben, sure, but she never has, and never will, care about him the way she cares about you. She saved you; she chose you."
Evie looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion and pain. "How can you be so sure, Jay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Mal and Ben have history... they have a future planned. And then there’s this... what happened between us. I don’t know how it all fits together."
Jay gently squeezed her shoulder, trying to convey some of his confidence. "Because the way Mal looks at you, Evie... it's different. It’s always been different. We’ve all seen it. What happened today, that kiss... it was real. And I know you feel it too."
Carlos, who had been listening quietly, added, "Jay's right, Evie," he said softly. "I know it's complicated, but what you and Mal have... it’s not something that can be ignored. And I’m sure Mal will tell you that when she wakes up."
Evie took a deep breath, her thoughts tangled in a web of emotions. On one hand, she had been waiting for this moment for so long, the acknowledgment of the feelings she had kept to herself. But on the other hand, there was Mal’s engagement to Ben, something she couldn’t just ignore.
"This is all so complicated," Evie murmured, looking at Mal with a mixture of love and pain. "I don’t want to be the reason Mal has to choose, but I don’t want to suffer either."
"Evie, if there's one thing I’ve learned in all this time, it's that Mal always makes decisions she believes are best for those she loves," Jay said. "And even though that means she sometimes does things we don’t understand, like lying about the barrier, her heart is always in the right place. She loves you, Evie, and that’s what matters. She’d never hurt you on purpose."
"And we’ll be here to support you both, no matter what," added Carlos, his voice firm. "You don’t have to face it alone."
Evie nodded slowly, feeling her friends' support like a balm on her troubled heart. "Thank you, guys," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. "I just hope that when she wakes up... we can talk."
Jay and Carlos exchanged a look and then nodded, each understanding the magnitude of what was coming. But they knew that, in the end, the most important thing was for Mal and Evie to find each other, together, amidst all the chaos surrounding them.
Jay stretched, feeling the tension of the recent events in his muscles. "Let’s go see what’s up with Audrey and Uma, and then we’ll find something for the four of us to eat," he said in a practical tone.
Carlos nodded, but before leaving, he turned to Evie, noticing how she hadn’t let go of Mal’s hand. "Evie," he said in a gentle but firm voice, "why don’t you go take a shower and change into something more comfortable? Mal’s not going anywhere, I promise."
Evie laughed softly, now calmer, though her eyes remained fixed on Mal, as if she feared that if she looked away, Mal would disappear. "You're right," she murmured, though she made no immediate move to leave the bed.
Jay and Carlos said their goodbyes with a nod, knowing there wasn’t much more they could do for now. As they left the room, silence settled again, only interrupted by Mal's soft breathing and Evie's racing heartbeat.
As Evie held Mal's hand, her mind kept spinning around the words she'd said before the battle. She wasn’t sure if she could forgive her... but now, seeing her so vulnerable, so fragile, she realized what truly mattered. Mal had always done what she thought was right to protect them, even when it meant making difficult decisions. Evie gently squeezed Mal's hand, whispering with a broken voice, "I'm sorry, M. I wasn't fair to you either."
With a delicate gesture, Evie brushed Mal's hair back and gently stroked her bruised arm. Evie thought she’d need to apply some anti-inflammatory cream. She got up to find it and began applying it to Mal’s battered skin.
At that moment, Mal hissed at the cold touch of the cream. Evie quickly lifted her hands, worried she’d hurt Mal more. Mal's eyes slowly opened, recognizing the cream, and she looked at Evie with a weak smile on her lips. "I'm fine, it was just the cold," Mal murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "Really, princess, you should get some rest too."
But hearing Mal’s voice so soft, Evie just stared at her as if she were observing a mirage, something fragile that could vanish at any moment.
The anguish in her eyes was palpable, and Mal noticed. With slight effort, she squeezed Evie's hand a little tighter, trying to convey some reassurance. "Evie," Mal continued, her voice a bit stronger this time, "please, go change. I’m not planning on getting up anytime soon."
Evie smiled slightly, though her eyes were still full of concern. "Were you listening to what Carlos said?" she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Mal let out a small laugh, barely a whisper in the quiet room. "Maybe," she replied with a smile that, though weak, had that mischievous touch so characteristic of her. "Besides, I think I’d like to have a clean Evie by my side."
Evie made a playful face, pretending to be offended. "Are you implying I don’t look good enough now?" she teased, though the tenderness in her voice was undeniable.
"You know you always look beautiful," Mal replied, her smile growing a bit warmer. "But seriously, go change. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere."
Evie finally nodded, realizing that Mal was right. With a kiss on the cheek, she got up and headed to the bathroom, though her steps were slow, as if she feared something might happen in the few minutes she’d be away.
When she came out of the bathroom, much more relaxed and dressed in comfortable clothes, she found Mal still awake, watching her with a soft expression. "Come here," Mal said, moving her hand slightly in an inviting gesture. "Lie down here with me."
Evie didn’t need to be told twice. She walked over to the bed and slid in next to Mal, feeling the warmth of her body help calm the fear that had been nesting in her chest. Mal wrapped an arm around Evie, pulling her closer, and Evie snuggled against her, letting the slow, steady rhythm of Mal's heartbeat soothe her.
"Thank you for taking care of me," Mal murmured, her voice now stronger, though still soft, as she pressed a kiss to Evie's blue hair.
Evie looked up at her, her eyes shining with emotions she couldn’t even fully identify. "I'll always be here for you, M," she replied sincerely, her voice laden with unspoken promises.
Mal caressed Evie’s waist as the blue-haired girl snuggled closer once more. Mal knew she couldn’t keep avoiding the inevitable. There was so much to discuss, so many things to confess.
Mal shifted slightly in bed, so they were facing each other. “Evie,” she began, her voice soft but firm, “I know we need to talk.”
Evie felt her heart race, and her breath caught momentarily. She knew Mal was right, that there was so much they needed to clear up between them, but still, the fear didn’t disappear. She simply nodded, preparing herself for what was to come. Though, with the closeness where their foreheads touched, she thought it couldn’t be that bad.
Mal started playing with Evie’s hand, her fingers tracing distracted patterns on her skin. That was when Evie noticed the golden ring wasn’t on Mal’s hand.
The truth was, Mal had taken it off the moment she realized she still had it on when Evie went to shower.
Without beating around the bush, and with that frankness that had always characterized her, Mal said, “Well, pick a topic, Princess: the kiss, the barrier, the lies.”
Evie swallowed, her eyes scanning Mal’s face before settling on the largest bruise. Gently, she began to caress it, as if with that simple gesture, she could heal the deeper wounds. “I think I understand about the barrier,” she murmured, her words filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. “M, you know which one worries me the most.”
Mal smiled, a spark of humor in her eyes. “The kiss that broke the spell? Yeah, I had my bets there,” she joked, trying to lighten the tension that still hung in the air.
Evie frowned and gently pinched Mal’s skin in response. “You’re a terrible patient,” she said, her voice a bit lighter, though the underlying seriousness of her words remained.
“And you’re a terrible nurse, where’s the code about not dating your patients?” Mal replied, letting out a soft laugh. “But, I guess I’ll forgive you because you’re cute.”
Evie joined in the laughter; Mal could be an adorable idiot when she wanted to be. Even so, the nervousness still pulsed in her chest. But then Mal sighed, her eyes searching Evie’s with a rare seriousness.
“I think the kiss… said what I never dared to say out loud, what I was afraid to admit,” Mal confessed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What I never dared to act on. When on our first date, I told Ben I didn’t know what love was, I lied. I did know what it was, or at least I realized I had it right in front of me all along.”
“I always want to be with you, I would kill for you, Evie, my heart races when I see you, I love listening to you talk about the things you’re passionate about, and I couldn’t bear the thought of moving out of this dorm and never sleeping by your side again.”
Evie felt her heart flip at Mal’s confession. For so long, she had dreamed of this moment, but now that it was here, fear and hope swirled together in a whirlwind of emotions. Evie could feel the tears in her eyes, though this time, they were tears of joy.
“I love you too, Mal. Without realizing it, I’ve loved you for a long time.”
Evie’s words fell like a revelation as she gently caressed Mal’s cheek. Mal was speechless for a moment, feeling the warmth rise in her face at the warmth and sincerity of Evie’s words.
The designer tilted her head slightly, her gaze still fixed on the fairy. “And now what?” she asked softly. “What we do now?”
Mal let out a sigh, but this time it was one of relief. “Ben needs to find a new queen,” she said, her words tinged with a calm determination. “And as long as you accept me… I’d like to be your happily ever after.”
Evie’s smile widened, filled with love and tenderness, before leaning forward and pressing her lips against Mal’s in a kiss that, for the first time, both were fully aware of and willing participants.
This kiss wasn’t marked by desperation or urgency but by the peace and certainty of two hearts that finally found themselves in the same place. Just the two of them, and the beginning of their own “happily ever after.”