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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟐
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑

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It took a while for Rylee to clean all the mud from Uma out of her hair. By the time she was finished, there were only two hours left before Cotillion began. The Fitzherbert girl quickly slipped on a pair of sweatpants and her Aurdon Prep sweater before racing down the hall to Evie's room. To the blonde girl's surprise, the daughter of the Evil Queen already had a simple light purple floor-length dress made for her. The fitting and alterations of the dress took about an hour before Evie got to work on Rylee's hair. The Fitzherbert girl couldn't believe how she looked after her friend finished working her magic. It was like Rylee never set foot on the Isle of the Lost.

As soon as Evie approved of her work, Rylee thanked her blue-haired friend before leaving the room. A small smile formed on the Fitzherbert girl's face as she made her way back to her dorm. When she arrived at her destination, Rylee pushed the door open to reveal everyone ready for Cotillion. The blonde girl was in shock at how different yet the same Gabby, Holly, and Skyler looked in clothing that wasn't leather. They also never looked happier. It wasn't long after that when the five of them made their way downstairs to meet up with the rest of their friends. The group of girls instantly found who they were looking for at the front of the school before all of them hopped into their stretch carriage and made their way to Cotillion.

The moment they stepped foot onto the boat where Cotillion was taking place, Skyler, Gabby, and Holly froze. Their eyes widened to the size of small planets as they looked around at the world around them while Rylee and Morgan watched them with smiles on their faces.

"This is definitely going to take some getting used to," Holly whispered while her eyes continued to scan over the well-lit boat in front of them.

"It'll take a while, but it'll be totally worth it," Skyler responded before she looked over at Holly and Gabby with a large grin on her face.

After the five of them shared a laugh, they made their way further. They barely made it any further when they saw Evie and Doug posing for pictures and answering questions. That caused the group of girls to stop near the top of the staircase as they watched the smiling couple. When Evie and Doug were finished, they made their way toward the deck of the ship while Holly, Gabby, and Skyler snuck past the cameras with another arriving group. Rylee let out a laugh at their actions before turning her attention back to Morgan. The two of them shared a smile before interlocking their arms and making their way down the steps. It wasn't long before they were bombarded by flashes and questions about the newest residence of Auradon.

"Princess Morgan! How does it feel to attend Cotillion with three more children of villains?"

"It's an amazing feeling to be able to share this experience with them," the Macintosh girl casually answered while her blonde friend continued to smile as cameras continued to flash in their faces.

"Do you think your parents will approve?" another reporter asked, causing the redheaded girl to send him a forced smile before letting out a silent sigh and answering his question.

"My family doesn't judge books by their covers or their prequels."

"Do you think they'll stay true to his evil roots or be like the VKs from last year?"

As soon as the man finished asking his question, Rylee looked over at her friend to see her eye slightly twitching. Knowing the questions were becoming too much for her, the Fitzherbert girl let out a long sigh as she stepped in front of Morgan. All of the reporters looked at the blonde girl with confusion in her eyes as she sent them a fake smile before opening her mouth to speak.

"I think that you should let them go on their way," she told them before Morgan sent her a thankful smile and made her way onto the dancefloor.

"Princess Rylee!" one of the reporters shouted, drawing the girl's attention to her before the woman asked her question, "do you have a date for Cotillion? Or are you solo like the last big event?"

The Fitzherbert girl hesitated for a long moment as she stared at the awaiting reporter. That lasted for what felt like an eternity for the princess before she let out another sigh and began answering the question. "I don't see why that matters, but if you must know I am here-"

"With a good friend."

The new voice caused Rylee to freeze before she turned in the direction of the sound. Her eyes instantly landed on a boy she didn't think she'd see any time soon as walked toward her with a large grin on his face. A smile soon formed on Rylee's lips as Pete Pan stopped next to her before placing an arm around her shoulders. After sending the group of reporters one last smile, the son of Peter Pan guided the princess away from them.

"I thought you were still in Neverland dealing with the Lost Kids," the Fitzherbert girl said while they made their way down the steps and towards their friends.

"I dealt with it," the brunette boy responded as the smile on his face grew before he looked down at Rylee, "and now I'm back."

"I'm glad you're here. I missed you, Pan."

"I missed you, too, Fitzherbert."

The two of them shared another smile before Rylee introduced Pete to Gabby, Skyler, and Holly. They talked for what felt like an eternity before the music around them suddenly stopped and trumpets began to play. It wasn't long after that when everyone turned their attention toward the stairs to find Lumiere standing on top of them.

"The future Lady Mal!" he announced before stepping aside to reveal Mal walking out wearing a beautiful yellow and blue dress.

Gasps filled the air as everyone stared at the wide-eyed purple-haired girl before Evie began clapping and cheering for her best friend. A smile quickly formed on Rylee's face as she followed the daughter of the Evil Queen's actions followed by the rest of the Cotillion attendees. As soon as Mal got halfway down the stairs, Adam escorted her the rest of the way before he, Belle, and Mal had a quick conversation. When she was finished speaking with the former king and queen of Auradon, Evie walked toward Mal before taking her hand and leading her over to their friends.

It wasn't long after she joined them when the trumpets began playing once again. Everyone instantly turned their attention back towards the stairs before Lumiere announced the king's arrival. Cheers erupted from the crowd as Ben appeared from around the corner with a smile on his face. The Beast boy just stood there for a moment and stared at Mal before making his way down the steps. As soon as he reached the purple-haired girl, Ben gave her a bow which she gladly returned with a curtsy. Even though Rylee and Morgan should've picked up on their friend's rigid stance, they didn't notice something was wrong until Ben didn't return Mal's smile.

"Mal, I wish I had time to explain," the King of Auradon said before turning his attention back towards the stairs.

Confusion flowed through every inch of Rylee's veins before she followed Ben's gaze. Gasps filled the air as everyone watched Uma walk out from behind the curtain. The daughter of Ursula just stood there with an uncomfortable look on her face before slowly making her way down the steps. The muttering around them continued after Ben walked forward to meet Uma halfway up the staircase. Rylee's attention immediately went to Adam and Belle, who looked just as confused as everyone else. When her eyes fell back on her best friend, the Fitzherbert girl couldn't fight the anger she was feeling. Especially after he placed a kiss on the teal-haired girl's hand right in front of Mal. As soon as they finished their moment, Ben and Uma slowly approached the daughter of Maleficent with large grins on their faces.

"I'm sorry. It all happened so fast," the Beast boy told the teary-eyed Mal while keeping the daughter of Ursula's hand tightly in his, "something happened to me when I was on the Isle with Uma. A connection."

"What are you saying?" the purple-haired girl questioned while watching Ben and Uma stare at each other with giant smiles on their faces.

"I'm saying..."

"It was love. It was," the teal-haired girl finished for the King of Auradon before letting out a fit of giggles and making eye contact with Ben once again, "I just...I realized how alike Ben and I are, you know?"

"Ben," Mal called out to the brunette boy after listening to him and Uma share a few inaudible words, "did you go back for her?"

"He didn't have to," the daughter of Ursula responded while Ben looked between the two girls with a blank expression on his face that made the confusion return to Rylee's veins, "I dove through the barrier before it closed and I'm an excellent swimmer, so..."

The next thing anyone knew, Uma took a step forward and said a few inaudible words to Mal before she pulled the latter in for a tight hug. The daughter of Maleficent refused to return the gesture while keeping her sad eyes glued to Ben.

"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," the Beast boy said, causing Rylee and Morgan to exchange a concerned look.

As soon as Ben finished speaking, he and Uma took a step back before soft music began to play. The two of them instantly started dancing while everyone continued to exchange confused looks with each other. Evie instantly stepped forward and grabbed Mal's hand before pulling her back to stand with their friends. They all watched the dancing couple with disgust on their faces while simultaneously trying to comfort Mal.

After watching them dance for a moment longer, Jay stepped forward and whispered something into Mal's ear. It wasn't long after that before he began guiding the daughter of Maleficent towards the exit. Everyone instantly followed after them and up the stairs. While Adam and Belle stopped Mal to have a quick conversation with her, Jane rushed past them and up the stairs. Rylee and Morgan kept their eyes glued to the brunette girl as she said something inaudible to Lumiere before the latter turned back towards the crowd.

"And now, for the unveiling of King Ben's masterpiece, designed especially for his lady," Lumiere announced before gesturing toward Mal with a smile on his face.

The trumpets instantly began playing before everyone turned their attention toward the other side of the boat. As soon as the music stopped, a curtain fell to the ground to reveal a stained glass portrait of Mal and Ben. A smile slowly formed on Rylee's face while Gabby gasped. It wasn't long after that when the crowd erupted into cheers. After admiring the stained-glass window for a moment longer, the Fitzherbert girl looked back towards Ben, only to discover an angry look forming on Uma's face.

"Cover that back up!" the daughter of Ursula demanded as she stormed across the deck before stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

"I will not!" Lumiere responded while the crowd watched their exchange with shock on their faces.

Uma hesitated for a moment as she stared at the man before turning back around to face the crowd. "Um...why don't you tell everyone the present you have for me, Ben?"

The King of Auradon just stared at her with a blank expression on his face before a hint of realization flashed across his face."I have an announcement! Uma will be joining the court tonight as my lady."

"Ben-"

"Not now, Rylee!" the Beast boy shouted at his friend for the first time in their lives, causing the Fitzherbert girl to stumble back into Pete.

Rylee and Morgan just stared at Ben in shock before they noticed him staring at the deck while rapidly blinking, as if trying to gather his thoughts. It wasn't long after that when he forced a smile back onto his face and continued speaking. "Uh, so, as my gift, uh, to her, I'm bringing down the barrier once and for all."

Gasps instantly filled the air as soon as the King of Auradon finished his announcement. Ben looked around at the surprised crowd that surrounded him before his eyes landed on Fairy Godmother. "Bring down the barrier."

"I most certainly will not!" the brunette woman exclaimed while staring at the Beast boy with wide eyes.

"I am your king!"

"Obey him!"

While everyone let out a gasp and went back to having silent conversations with those around them, Rylee's attention stayed glued to Ben. Her eyes scanned over every inch of him and took in everything that wasn't right. From his stiff stance to his constantly blinking eyes. But the thing that gave it away the most was the way he was shouting at everyone. That wasn't the Ben she knew...that wasn't the Ben anyone knew.

A wave of realization instantly washed over Rylee before she took a few steps forward to stand next to Mal. However, before the Fitzherbert girl had a chance to say anything, the daughter of Maleficent took the words right out of Rylee's mouth.

"Ben's been spelled."

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