A/N: Hello Readers. This is just an idea that I have playing around with in my head for a while. I was going to try to incorporate it into my other story in this fandom. But, it just won't fit right. I promise that I will update "You'll Always Be Mine" as soon as I get over the writer's block that I have for it. I have been working on the next chapter for it, but it just isn't flowing how I would like it. Anyway, I know nothing, and I hope you like this story!
This story is set 5 years after the coronation. Ben had Mal move into the castle into her own suite after graduation, and they are still dating.
Mal stood in front of the floor length mirror in her suite in the castle. She smooth out the front of the dress that she was wearing and adjusted her necklace. "Mal, let me see what you look like!" Evie called through the bathroom door. Mal stepped out and Evie gasped at how her best friend looked.
Mal was wearing a royal blue floor length ball gown that had 'just the right amount of puffiness to it' as Evie called it. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. There was a yellow sash around the waist of it and all along the skirt were small shimmering crystals. Evie had out done herself with this gown. Mal's hair hung in loose waves that framed her face and Evie had paired the dress with a beautiful blue and yellow crystal statement necklace.
"Mal! You look amazing!" Evie squealed. "Thanks Evie! Do you think Ben will like it?" Mal asked her friend. "Ben will love it, and so will the Kingdom!" Evie told her. Mal's heart dropped a little when her friend reminded her of why she was so dressed up. Tonight the Kingdom was celebrating Ben's 21st birthday. Everyone who was anyone was going to be there, and Ben insisted that Mal make his grand entrance with her beside him.
"Mal, don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. You look amazing and Ben is going to be right beside you. Okay?" Evie said pulling Mal into a hug. Moments later there was a knock on the door. "Mal," Ben's voice rang out. "Are you ready?" Evie went to open the door and leave. "She's ready when you are" Evie remarked to Ben as she walked out to make her way to the grand ballroom.
Ben walked into the room and his jaw dropped when he say his beautiful girlfriend. "You look breathtaking!" Be exclaimed as he pulled Mal in for a kiss. "So do you." Mal retorted. Ben took her hand and escorted her out of the room and to the top of the grand staircase that lead into the ballroom. This is where they would make their entrance.
"Ready?" Ben asked her. "Mal shook her head yes and took a deep breath. The doors to the ballroom opened, and they stepped in. "Presenting, His Royal Highness Benjamin, King of Auradon, and his girlfriend, Mal." The herald called out as they walked in. Mal's heart was pounding has she looked out at all of the people. Ben gave a welcome to everyone, and they made their way around the ballroom.
Mal was so nervous. This was the first time she had every met many of the people that were at the ball. Dukes, Duchesses, Lords, and Ladies for all over the land were there.
Mall tried to keep her cool, but sometimes she would get so nervous she would stumble of her words and she bumped into a few people when they were walking around.
"Ben, I need a minute just to calm down, there are so many people here, and I'm just a little overwhelmed." Mal told him as they finished one of the many dances they had shared that night. "Okay that is fine, but meet me at the top of the staircase in fifteen minutes." Ben told her. "Okay." Mal kissed his cheek and hastily made her way to the powder room. Thankfully it was empty.
Mal shut herself in the stall farthest away from the door and sank down. She tried to catch her breath, and she was mentally kicking herself for being so nervous. Mal heard the door open, and a group of women walked in.
"Can you believe that girl that the king is dating?" The first woman said. "I know. She looks like a freak with that purple hair of hers." Another said. Mal felt tears well up in her eyes as she covered her hand with her mouth.
"When I met her she we stumbling over her words like she had never met anyone before. I wonder if she is stupid or something." A third woman said which cause the group to laugh.
"She can't dance either, she bumped into me twice." A fourth said. "I just hope that the king wises up and dumps her. She would make a terrible Queen. He needs to find a nice princess that was raised right, not some street trash from the Isle!" All of the women agreed, laughed and left the room.
Mal was in tears at their comments. They hurt her so much, because they were true. She could never be Queen because she was just some piece of street trash from the Isle.
Mal gathered herself and fixed her makeup and tried to erase any signs of the tears that she had shed. She checked to clock in the powder room. She had five minutes to meet Ben. She traveled down the hallway and found him waiting for her.
"There you are." Ben said as he pulled her in for a hug. "I was beginning to think you had runaway." Ben joked. Mal forced a chuckle.
Before anything else could be said, Ben pulled Mal out to the top of the staircase with him. "Greetings once again everyone!" Ben called out to the guest below. "I am so happy that all of you could be here to help me celebrate my birthday, and I want to extend a special thanks to my beautiful and loving girlfriend Mal, who has been by my side these past five years." Ben looked to Mal and smiled. She nodded back to him.
"Now," Ben continued. "Normally, most people receive gifts on their birthday, but tonight, I would like to give a special gift, to a special someone in my life, and hopefully, in return this person will give me on other greatest gifts in return."
Ben grabbed Mal's had, and pulled her center stage Mal's eyes grew wide, and her heart dropped because she knew what was about to happen. Her palms were sweaty and her knees grew weak. Ben reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a velvet blue box and got down on one knee in front of Mal.
There was a gasp from the audience as Ben open the box. Tears began to form in Mal's eyes. Not tears of joy, but tears of fear. "Mal," Ben began. "I love you more than anything in this world, and I can't imagine my life without you. You have been by myside through everything. You are my heart, my rock, my one true love. Mal, you are my happily ever after. Will you marry me?" Ben asked her with the biggest most genuine smile on his face.
"Mal's heart was screaming for her to say yes, but all she heard in her head where the mean comments from the women in the bathroom, and her own demons telling her she wasn't good enough.
"I…I…I…" Mal stuttered unable to form words.
Then, she began to back up. Mal's footfalls were soft, and unsure, as if she was going to stop and say yes, but then she turned around and ran. She ran from Ben, she ran from the people, she ran from the demons, she ran from love.
Mal looked back just once, something she knew she would regret, she saw Ben still kneeling there with a look of shock and disbelief on his face. But more than anything, Ben looked hurt.
"Mal!" Ben called out after her. He got up and he ran after her. Ben was fast. All of his years spent in tourney had made him fast, but, Mal had run her whole life in order to live, so she was just a bit faster. She kicked off her high heel shoes that were holding her back. She picked up the hem of her dress and sprinted as tears rolled down her face. She heard Ben running behind her.
He was close; he was going to catch her. "I'm sorry Ben, I can't. I'm sorry." Mal yelled out in between sobs. Mal knew that Ben was close enough for him to hear her.
She rounded a corner, and then another. She ran down the stairs, but Ben was still right on her tail. "Ben, please stop, let me go, I'm not the one for you!" Mal yelled out trying to get him to leave him alone. She was running towards the stables. She would get a horse, and just ride away where Ben would never find her. That was her plan.
"Not a chance Mal, please, let's talk about this!" Ben yelled after her. "Mal, I love you. Please stop!" Ben called again.
Mal burst through on of the side doors and ran into the castle gardens. She was so thankful that the huge rose bushes were in bloom. She ran into them to hide herself. She stopped for just a moment to catch her breath. Moments later she heard Ben run out the same door she did. "Mal, Mal, please don't hide, just talk to me!" Ben yelled into the night air.
Mal didn't make a sound as she crept through the bushes. She heard Ben stalking her. His footsteps barely made a sound, but Mal could hear his breath, heavy from chasing her. She moved ever so slowly. He was gaining on her, but she didn't want to be loud and give away her location. When she was sure it was safe to run, Mal sprinted away, and Ben heard her and went right after her. Mal was sure she was going to make her escape, but what she didn't count on was a stay branch of the bush catching onto her dress and snagging it which cause her to tumble forward to the ground.
"Ow!" Mal cried as she made contact with the earth. Dirt clung to her sweaty body. She desperately tried to free herself but it was too late. Seconds later, be toppled onto her.
He straddled her and pinned her body to the ground. "Mal, why are you running? What did I do? Please tell me Mal. I love you." Ben told her. Mal was struggling to break free, but Ben was just too strong.
"I, I can't be Queen. I don't love you Ben." Mal said as she tried to push him off of her. "That's a lie and we both know it." Ben said with an edge of anger in his voice.
"Ben, I can't be Queen, I'm not right for you. Tonight has been a joke. When I was in the powder room, all these women made mean comments about me, but they were so true. Ben, you need to find someone else. You need to find a nice princess, not some street trash from the Isle." Mal sobbed out.
"Street trash?" Ben said fighting his own tears. "Is that was they called you? Is that what you think you are Mal, trash?" Mal didn't answer him because she knew he wouldn't like her answer.
"Mal, you are not trash, you are the most beautiful, kind, caring, and loving person I know. I meant every word I said back there. Ben pulled her face to meet his. Tears spilled from Mal's cheeks. "I love you Ben." She sobbed. "I love you too. Now I'm going to untangle you, are you going to run again?" He asked her.
"No, I'm not." Mal told him. "Good." Ben smiled back at her. Be untangle he dress and helped her up. "Do you want to go back to the party?" He asked her. "No. I just want to go back to my room." She said. "Okay, but first" Ben started, "Can we retry that whole proposal thing?" Ben asked her, "Yes." Mal replied. Ben got down on one knee again and pulled out the ring. "So, Mal, will you marry me?" Ben asked her. "Yes Ben, yes I will." Mal cried some happy tears this time ask Ben slide the ring on her finger. He got up and pulled her into a loving kiss.
Mal broke away from him. "Race you back to castle!" she called as she took off. "Mal, I've already caught you one time, don't think I can do it again!" Ben called after her as her took of once again after to woman he loved.
A/N: Wow, this is by far on of the longest stories I have written. I really hope you guys like it and drop me a review. I rated it "M" just to be safe in case I expand it and because I feel like this story should be read by a more mature audience. Please drop me a review and let me know what you think!