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It had been ten years.
Ten years since Mal had faced her fears.
Ten years since Mal had declared good.
Ten years since Mal had defeated her mother, Maleficent, turning her into a small lizard.
Originally, Mal had been allowed to keep her mother, letting her stay in Mal and Evie’s shared dorm (although Evie really disliked that arrangement), but after a while everyone decided it would be safer to keep Maleficent in a special room in the Auradon castle. Maleficent was the most malicious villain in all of Auradon, and nobody wanted to take any chances with her.
When Maleficent had first been moved to her own room, Mal tried to visit her mother often and update her on how Mal was doing and how her life was going. Eventually, though, life moved on, and so did Mal.
It had been ten years since Mal had really had a true conversation with her mother. So, Mal decided to take a ride over to Auradon to visit her mother one more time.
Walking through the halls of the castle that had served as Mal’s introduction to Auradon, she reminisced on how much her life had changed. When Mal first roamed these halls, she only wanted to please her mother, and was willing to do anything to do that. Now, though, Mal was her own person, and this school was where that transformation took place.
On her way to where Maleficent was held, Mal passes the dorm rooms where she, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had stayed. They had been friends on the Isle (although they would never use those exact words back then), but Auradon had brought them together even more, to the point where Mal had no idea what she would do without them.
Finally, Mal reached the room where Maleficent was held. The room was stationed with guards, as, even though Maleficent was a lizard, everyone was too scared to take any risks. While normally people were forbidden to enter the room, Mal had special permission, because she had ordered asked Ben to let her visit her mother whenever. It was her mother, after all!
After getting permission from the guards to enter the room, she slowly opened the heavy wooden doors, leading into a dimly lit room; cracked stone bricks lining the walls and old, withered wood covering the floors, both modeled after Bargain Castle, where Maleficent had raised Mal. The walls were covered in cobwebs, along with a painting of Mal and Maleficent that Mal had painted herself. In the center of the room was a wrought iron pedestal with a glass container on top; lit up by a dim spotlight from above. That small glass container was where the evil, all-powerful Maleficent resided, taking a nap on a leaf.
Mal walked up to the pedestal and sat next to it, gaining the attention of the lizard inside.
“Hi, mom.” Mal said hesitantly. She was never good at talking to her mom like this. Not only was it strange not getting a response, but it was also strange that she was talking to the woman who nearly made her destroy all of Auradon and abused her throughout all of her childhood like they were best-buds. But, deep down, for some reason, Mal still loved her mother. Mal would never understand why, but she did. She really did.
“It’s been ten years.” Mal said, watching the lizard walk up to the glass, staring deep into her eyes.
“I know you never really loved me, and you probably still don’t, but I want to pretend you do. I want to tell you what all has happened in my life like you do, because, even though you might not like who I’ve become, I do, and I want you to meet that new me.”
Mal pulled out a small piece of paper where, with Evie’s help, Mal had written down all of her thoughts and feelings, that way she wouldn’t miss anything. Mal knew she was going to get emotional, something she despised and wasn’t very good at, so any help would be good.
Originally, Evie offered to join her, but Mal had refused. This was about Mal and her mother, and that was it.
“So, firstly, I’ve still chosen good.” Mal said, and she could swear she saw Maleficent frown, causing her to quietly giggle. “But not as good as they want me to be. I’m not perfect and I never will be, and, honestly, I like that. I’m not a villain, but I’m not some Auradon princess. I never will be and I couldn’t be happier about that.”
“Also, last we talked I was dating Ben. Ben’s fine, but he’s super boring and is constantly working. It just wasn’t right for me. Plus, I would have made a horrible queen. It all required me to be so boring and perfect all of the time, and I just hated it. It was tough to break up with the king of all of Auradon, but it went surprisingly well, and I’m so glad I did. Audrey is much better for him, anyways.”
“I’m not single, though. In fact, I’m married to Evie! I know you always thought me keeping her as close to me as I did was weak, but I couldn’t have been more glad I did. I couldn’t ever put into words why I always wanted to be with her; why I protected her so fiercely. I get it now. It’s because I love her, and that’s not weak. In fact, I think I’ve become stronger for it.” Mal continued, eyes starting to tear up.
“We ended up buying a castle out in the wilderness with Jay and Carlos, who are also dating, to literally no one’s surprise.” Mal said, laughing. “It’s weird living with them, but I’m glad I am. I think there would be something missing if we just went our separate ways. They taught me to love, they stayed with me regardless on when I messed up, they’re a part of me.”
“Evie’s started her clothing empire, as all of us expected. Evie really has blossomed since coming to Auradon. She really is an Auradon girl at heart.” Mal said. “Back on the Isle, I remember that Jay, Carlos, Dizzy, and I always tried to do what we could to get Evie to Auradon. Everyone knew how much better off she would be there, and that’s been absolutely true. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she had always lived in Auradon. It’s where she belongs, and I’m so happy for her.”
“Jay isn’t as suited for Auradon, but has really fell in love with Tourney. He plays it professionally now, and is one of the best players in all of Auradon. He gets to travel the world, playing games against all sorts of people. It’s so cool when me and Evie see him on TV as if he were some sort of celebrity. Well, I mean, he kind of is, he’s known by practically all of Auradon. Since he’s always travelling, though, we don’t see him that often, but when we do, it’s always as if a little part of me returns.”
“We also don’t see Carlos that often, as he always travels with Jay. Carlos works on coding projects for some of the biggest organizations in Auradon. People from all over will pay him to work on projects, and since he can do it on the road, he is able to go wherever Jay does. He’s even worked on the security system of Auradon Castle. Guess it really does take a criminal to know one, because the system is regarded as one of the best pieces of technology in all of Auradon, and has been replicated all over.”
“As for me, I do art professionally. Remember those ‘Evil Lives’ marks I made all over the Isle? I used to think I did them to be evil, even though you always told me it wasn’t, but I think I actually did it because I enjoy art. I don’t make much money from it, but I love it. It gives me purpose in life, something that I didn’t really have before.”
“I’ve really grown as a person, and I’m so glad I have.” At this point, Mal was sobbing. Mal had always wanted to tell her mother this, but was always too scared to. Now she was, though, and she was so glad she was.
“Oh, there is one other thing. I’m going to be a mother. Well, I’m not actually going to be pregnant. Evie wanted to be the one to carry the baby, and Jay was nice enough to donate sperm for us, but it’s still mine. Honestly, I’m scared, but I know I’m going to be a good mother. I’m not going to be like you, mom. I’m going to take care of my child. I’m going to love her no matter what. I wish you did that for me, and I won’t let it run in the family.”
Mal couldn’t say anymore; she was too emotional. So, she just sat there with her mother and cried.
Finally, Mal got herself together, and looked back at Maleficent, who was keenly eying Mal.
“See, I can cry now. I can show my emotions, and for your knowledge, it’s way more powerful than hiding them. And harder, too.”
“I really wish you had actually been there for me. It’s not too late, though. As Fairy Godmother said all those years ago, ‘you’ve learned to love, so can she.’ I hope you do.”
Finally, Mal stood up, the weakness in her legs proving she had been there for longer than she had planned. Her mom still watched her, looking as if she were lost in thought.
“I love you, mom. I hope, one day, we can talk in person. See you soon.” And as Mal left, she swore she saw that small lizard grow. It might not have been a lot, but she swore she was bigger, and that was enough.