“Mal will have her friends with her. She’ll be perfectly safe,” said Ben.
“I promise, nothing will happen,” said Mal. “In fact,” she continued, looking to Ben for encouragement, “I would like to use my trip to help with the initiative of bringing more VKs over to Auradon. I think hearing it directly from me and my friends will help these kids understand how their lives can really change for the better.”
“I totally agree,” said Ben. “It’s time to bring more kids from the Isle to the mainland, and Mal can help us do that.”
“The longer they stay isolated and influenced by their parents’ evil deeds, the harder it will be for them to ever acclimate to life on Auradon,” said Mal. “I should know. When we were brought here, our parents tried to get us to steal Fairy Godmother’s wand.”
“How can we forget?” said Fairy Godmother.
“But now Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are some of Auradon Prep’s top students,” Queen Belle reminded them. “The others will be like them.”
“I still have my doubts,” said Fairy Godmother.
“Please, trust us,” said Mal.
“Trust her,” said Ben. “As king, I believe this is the right thing to do.” He checked his watch. If they made it out of here in the next few minutes, they still had a fighting chance at winning the quest.
“The king has decided, then,” said King Beast. “Hear, hear. Mal will be visiting her homeland.”
Fairy Godmother nodded. “Hail to the king. And congrats, Mal. I know you’ll have a wonderful trip.”
“Good job, son,” said his mother. “And well done, Mal.”
Ben was relieved they had reached consensus so quickly. “Great! Now that we’ve all agreed, I’ve outlined the plan,” he told them. “Mal and her team can meet with Dr. Facilier of Dragon Hall and liaise with him to drum up interest in the program. Once we receive all the applications, we’ll select four new worthy candidates.”
Fairy Godmother pulled out a feathered pen and began scribbling notes. “We’ll have the royal press issue a proclamation with the dates of Mal’s visit.”
“Excellent,” said Ben.
“Mal, remember that, this time, you will be traveling as Auradon’s representative,” said Fairy Godmother.
“I won’t fail you,” said Mal.
Ben looked at the dates Fairy Godmother proposed. “Oh!”
“What?”
“That’s the same weekend that we’re having the meeting to discuss the new NAFFA trade agreement,” said Ben.
“That’s right. The National Association of Far Far Away,” said King Beast. “Everyone from Agrabah to Camelot will be there.”
Ben turned to Mal. “I won’t be able to come to the Isle of the Lost with you. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mal said, giving him an understanding look.
“No one said ruling was easy,” Ben said with a sigh.
“That’s okay,” said Mal with a wicked smile. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know what is easy?”
Ben raised an eyebrow.
“Winning the Senior Quest! We have to move. The first teams are already at Cinderella’s castle! Let’s go!”
As Mal and Ben zoomed out of the room, Fairy Godmother turned to the king and queen. “Senior Quest? What’s that?”
But Belle and Beast only smiled mysteriously. There were some traditions that were best kept secret.
ome on,” said Evie, tiptoeing along the castle walls. She and Doug had crossed the moat by bringing down the drawbridge. Now all they had to do was get inside.