Chapter 4: Five Hearts as One

A/N: Hello, and welcome to the Final (Maybe?) Chapter of Descendants: The Twisted Tale. In the last couple of days, I've gotten a few reviews and PMs asking me if I'm thinking about continuing the story. and my answer will have to wait until after this chapter. So until then, enjoy Chapter 4!

Before we left for the coronation, there was a couple of things I needed. Remembering the magic carpet from before, I cast a spell to shrink it so I could sneak it into the chapel. If we were going to pull this off, we'd need a quick getaway. The magic carpet had enough strength to hold two people. I'm sure that three would be no problem. We had to stay in the balcony but even if we still needed to escape quickly, as long as I held the carpet, we'd be just fine.

I think all of us were nervous. We'd only get one shot at this. If we failed, Auradon would go free. Our parents would be disappointed in us forever. I knew the pressure was weighing on Mal heavily. I wanted nothing more than to go and comfort here. But, I couldn't. Off on the other side of Mal, I noticed Nadra standing with her family and Fazil. She wore an oasis blue dress and a gold necklace placed around her neck. Though it was impossible to see from here, she may have also been carrying her key chain. For a brief moment, her eyes gazed up at the balcony to meet mine. For a while, we just stared at one another before I shook my head and looked away.

Disregarding my feelings for Nadra, I focused my attention back on my sister. When the doors of the chapel and Ben slowly walked down the aisle, I could feel Mal's anxiety within me as if it were my own. She managed to bow respectfully to Ben as he passed and I sighed. "Here we go."

Then Fairy Godmother took the stage, hugged the beauty and bowed to the beast before lifting the crown from his head. Making her way to the prince, she placed the crown upon him. The king lifted the jar and the queen took the wand and presented it to Fairy Godmother. Then she turned to Ben and raised her voice so all of us could hear. "Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?"

For a moment, I saw Mal stiffen and I knew that if she didn't grab it soon, our time would be up.

Ben answered. "I do solemnly swear."

Fairy Godmother tapped his shoulders with the wand and held it out to the side. "Then it is my honor and my joy to bless our new king…" That was as far as she got. In a flash, the wand left her fingers and was placed into another's. At the transferal of hands, the wand went berserk and a ray of power was cast out of it. Everyone was shocked. Because the moment of betrayal came from an unexpected source.

"Child, what are you doing?" Fairy Godmother shrieked at the girl.

"If you won't make me beautiful," Jane exclaimed, "I'll do it myself." The wand began to go out of control. Sparks kept flying out of the tip and Ben ran to Mal to protect her. No one made a move to get close as Jane tried to control its magic. "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"

Mal stepped forward and fought with Jane for the wand. Meanwhile, I cast the enlarging spell on the magic carpet and jumped off the balcony without seeing if the others were following. Down below, Mal had managed to wrestle the wand out of Jane's hands and it stopped sparking. Coming to a rest next to my sister, I stepped off the carpet and said, "What's the plan, sis?"

Ben came towards us, calmly but cautiously. "Mal, give me the wand."

"Stand back!" She threatened. I stood by her and held up my glove, also pointing it at Ben. The sound of the doors opening alerted us to the others arriving but we kept our eyes facing forward.

Ben tried to talk to Mal. "It's okay…"

But Mal was insistent. "Ben, I said, stand back!"

Audrey came out of the crowd. "I told you so!" Mal waved the wand their way and they all backed up in fear.

"LEV!"

I turned to see Nadra on my right. I pointed my glove in her face and she flinched. "Lev, you don't have to do this." She held out her hand and I stared at it in indecision. "Please."

I scowled on the outside but on the inside, I didn't know what to do.

Carlos told us to hurry up. "Let's go."

Jay agreed. "Revenge time."

"You really want to do this?" Ben asked.

"We have no choice, Ben. Our parents…" Mal cried, exasperated.

Ben cut her off. "Your parents made their choice. Now you make yours."

Mal took a few breaths and began to look around the room. I glanced back at Nadra and realized what I would be giving up if we delivered the wand to our parents. What would happen to her…

"I think I want to be good," was Mal's whispered reply.

"You are good." Ben stated.

"How do you know that?" Mal shouted.

"Because…" Ben trailed off for a split second before starting again. "Because I'm listening to my heart."

Mal stood silently. "I want to listen to my heart too." Then she spun around and said, "And my heart is telling me that we are not our parents." I dropped my hand from in front of Nadra's face and gave Mal my full attention. She smiled at us. "I mean, stealing things doesn't make you happy. Tourney and victory pizza with the team makes you happy." Jay smiled as she reminded him of what mattered to him.

She spoke next to Carlos. "And you… scratching Dude's belly makes you happy. Who woulda thought?" We all chuckled at that one, even some people in the audience.

Then she spoke to Evie. "And Evie, you do not have to play dumb to get a guy. You are so smart." Evie was smiling as the tears ran down her face.

Then my sister turned to me. "And you too, Lev. Don't let her go. If your friendship with Nadra makes you happy, you need to fight for her."

I smiled, some tears escaping down my cheeks as well.

Mal looked at all of us. "And I don't want to take over the world with evil. That doesn't make me happy. I want to go to school…" We all smiled at her words. "And be with Ben." She turned and held up the ring. "Because Ben makes me really happy."

"Us being friends makes me really happy. Not destroying things. I choose good, you guys." The wand dropped to her side and she stuck a fist out and held it aloft. We were all silent for about five seconds before I placed my hand to the right of hers. "So do I."

Mal gave me a genuine smile and used her free arm to give me a hug. Soon, Jay and Evie followed suit. Only Carlos hesitated. "So, just to be clear, we don't have to be worried about how really mad our parents will be?" We all laughed at that one. "Because they're going to be really, really mad."

Ben answered, "Your parents can't reach you here."

Carlos smiled. "Okay then." He put his fist in. "Good."

Mal gestured to Ben and since she was inviting him, I held my hand out to Nadra. Smiling, she took it and entered the circle with us. Then, the crowd broke out into cheers and for once, it felt like everything would work out just fine. But, unfortunately, there was still one more twist in the tale.

Thunder struck and the entire crowd jumped. The sky outside darkened considerably as a sinister laugh erupted in the hall and green mist floated down from the heavens. When it hit the floor, it remolded itself to reveal…

"Mom." I said, my eyes widened in shock.

Maleficent yelled out to the masses. "I'M BACCCCKKKKKKK!"

Nadra grabbed my hand and I squeezed hers reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll fix this."

Mal cried. "Go away, Mother."

Mom snorted in laughter as if she thought we were joking. "You're very funny. Here. Wand me. Chop chop!"

Mal threw it, but not to her. The wand sailed through the air and Fairy Godmother caught it. "Bibbidi Bobbidi…"

"Boo!" Mom said mockingly before raising her scepter. A green light pulsed from the staff and the entire hall froze. Only Mal, Evie, Carlos and Dude, Jay, and I were unaffected. At least I thought so until…

"Lev!" I was shocked to see Nadra still moving. "What's going on? How come I didn't freeze with everyone else?" I had no answer until I noticed our interlocking fingers. But this wasn't the time to discuss it. So instead, I said, "Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand."

Maleficent then began to inspect her prisoners. She started with the King. Taking off his glasses, she mused, "In another time, in another time…" Then she placed his glasses on his head and walked up to the Fairy Godmother. Ripping the wand from her grasp and proceeded to pick at her nose with. "Oh no, someone needs to pluck their nose hairs." She looked to us. "Where shall we begin?" She ducked under her arms and then an idea occurred to her. "I know. How about we start with getting rid of this?"

Mal's hand flew up without warning and Prince Ben's ring was tugged off. Mal looked at her finger in tears and I gripped her shoulder firmly before glaring at our mother.

"Perfect fit… Oh excuse me," she said as she went under the other arm. "Pardon me, excuse me. The horns, the horns!"

Maleficent messed with the crown on Ben's head. "Falling in love is weak. And ridiculous." She raised an eyebrow my way. "Just ask your brother and this girl." I stepped forward in an attempt to shield Nadra from her sight. But she was done with me and focused all of her attention on Mal.

"It's not what you want."

"You don't know what I want," Mal cried. "Mom, have you ever once asked me what I want? I'm not you!"

"Well, obviously, I put years and years and years of practice into being evil. You'll get there."

"No, I will not." Mal declared. "And I really wish that you had never gotten there yourself."

Mal smiled. "Love is not weak or ridiculous. It's actually really amazing.

"If I know one thing, young lady, you have no room for love in your life." Maleficent had had enough of Mal's arguments and was now pointing the wand threateningly at us.

Mal looked at the wand and before holding a hand out. "And now I command, wand to my hand!"

The wand broke free of the evil fairy's hold and returned to Mal's hand. "It worked!"

"Of course it did, Mal! We're way stronger that we were before." I said.

"I hardly think so. This is tedious and very immature. Give me the wand. GIVE ME THE WAND!" Mom yelled in anger.

"Hold on Mal, maybe good really is more powerful than evil." Carlos suggested. We all thought about that.

Maleficent scoffed at his proposal. "Oh please, you're killing me. Arf!" Dude ran up and jumped into her arms. While she dealt with him, I noticed Nadra unclipping her key chain from her side.

In the time that Maleficent was occupied, Jay tried to grab the scepter and yank it away. But, she only grabbed his arm, made an offhand comment about Gaston and flicked him away. Then, with another cackle, she stepped onto the dais. "Enough! You all will regret this!"

She turned back into green smoke and remolded herself yet again, this time into a giant dragon. She roared out and breathed fire. Jay fell backward, breaking the connection between Nadra and I. As Nadra was falling backwards, she had enough time to toss her key chain my way before the spell took effect and she froze like all the rest. "Nadra!"

Getting to his feet, Jay grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd. We tried going around the pillar but she just circled around and caught up. Looking to the key chain, I pulled the tiger free and called out, "Azim, protect!" Then, I chucked it and watched as it landed on the dragon's head. There was a flash and then, Azim appeared and began clawing at the dragon. Mom tried to shake him off but she wasn't having much luck. Grabbing Jay's outstretched arm, we made our way back to the middle of the hall. A roar alerted me to Azim's predicament. Mom had finally managed to shake the tiger off and was now trying to forcibly crush him.

Unclipping the sword and letting it grow in size, I handed it off to Jay and said, "Keep the others safe."

"Wait, bro, what about you?" He asked.

I took a deep breath. My spells wouldn't do much to her no matter what I used. If we were going to defeat her, we'd need more than that. We'd need the power of another Big Bad. Ripping the glove from my hand, I let the transformation take over like it had always wanted. But unlike the other times, I let it keep going until I was fully transformed. I could feel the other's stares as my skin darkened and my eyes blazed yellow. My hands and feet grew claws and my body put on muscle. Ethereal wings of shadow extended from my back and I flapped them a few times. Jumping into the air, I used my newfound strength to catch Maleficent off guard and punch her in the stomach. The dragon groaned and she let Azim go. The tiger's form faded and then there was nothing but the trinket left over. I didn't have time to try and catch it. I was too busy fending for my life. Mom began to swat at me as though I were a fly and it took every fiber of my being to maneuver while in the air. Since this was the first time I had grown the wings, I wasn't used to them yet.

"Lev! Watch out!" Mal's voice warned me but it was too late.

Slap! Mom hit me in the chest and I slammed into the nearest wall. The wall cracked from my impact and giant pieces of debris fell. I was dazed but immediately remembered the people frozen under us. Reaching towards the falling rubble, I telekinetically willed the rubble to stop and to rise back towards me. Then, using one of my father's signature moves, I set the rubble ablaze and sent it back at her. While she was distracted, I flew under and then up. Prepping a fist, I gave her a right hook and a roundhouse kick to the throat.

Flying backwards, I chanced a look at the others to make sure they were out of harm's way. That was my mistake.

SWAT! Mom's claws swatted me out of the air while I wasn't looking and I hit the ground only a few feet away from my friends. I heard Mal and Carlos call out my name and had enough time to lift my head and see the dragon coming at me with teeth bared.

"Magic mirror, shine a bright light!" Evie's voice called out into the quiet. The mirror managed to blind her, giving Jay and Carlos enough time to drag me backwards behind Evie.

The purple and black dragon fell to the ground and now stood only a few feet away glaring menacingly. Jay warded her away with the sword a couple of times and kept it in front of us as another defense.

Mal stood up and shouted, "Leave my friends alone!" Making her way to the front, I got to my feet and joined her. "This is between the three of us, mother!" I cried.

Mom glared at us with an intense heat but we weren't backing down this time. I opened my mouth to recite a spell but Mal beat me to the punch.

"The strength of evil is good as none when stands before five hearts as one." She said. Looking for my seal of approval, Mal turned to me. I nodded in agreement and added my voice to hers. "The strength of evil is good as none when stands before five hearts as one."

The others stood with us and as we came together, I could feel the magical tension in the room. But, Mal and I continued on, our friend's strengths adding to our own. "The strength of evil is good as none when stands before five hearts as one!"

Mother stared us down with all of her might and we stared back. But instead of my regular green, I stared back with eyes of yellow. We were locked in the staring contest for all of seven seconds before she shook her head and dissolved into mist before disappearing with a mighty roar.

Fairy Godmother seemed to break free from the spell's hold. But, she was the only one. Still, we made our way towards her. "What just happened?" Jay asked.

"Not a clue…" I replied.

"Is it over?" Carlos wondered.

"Did you do it?" Evie questioned.

"I don't know." Mal answered.

Fairy Godmother met us halfway so that we were all looking down at the newt on the ground. "No, no, no. Your mother did. She shrank to the size of the love in her heart. That's why it's so itty bitty."

Mal and I bent down and Fairy Godmother followed our lead. "Is she going to be like that forever?" We asked.

"Forever is a long time. You learned to love. So can she."

Mal smiled before presenting her with the wand. "I believe that this belongs to you."

I smiled too. Fairy Godmother looked pleased. "You all have earned yourselves an A in Goodness Class."

Off to the side, I noticed my discarded glove and proceeded to put it back on and cast the transformation spell. At the same time, Fairy Godmother raised her wand and shouted, "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"

The spell was broken, the people were unfrozen, and I had just enough time to catch Nadra before she fell backwards.

"Whoa, wait, weren't you in front of me before? And did you transform?" I chuckled. I forgot that transforming ruined the things that I was wearing. I was sure that I was a mess but at that point, I really didn't care. Seeing something that made me smile, I dropped to my knees and picked up the miniature tiger. Then, I clipped it back onto the key chain and said, "Thanks for throwing him my way. Without Azim, it feels like this wouldn't have gone a different way."

"Well, I'm glad that I could be helpful." Then she moaned in mock agony. "Especially since I missed the entire fight. I can't believe I got delegated to the damsel in distress role." She scoffed in annoyance. "The next time something like this happens, I'm fighting by your side. Capiche?"

"Got it. But hopefully, that won't happen for a while." I said. Off to the side, Amir and Fazil were looking at me. But, rather than glares, they gave me small grins. It looked like they were trying really hard to keep the grins on their faces but at least they were putting effort into it.

"Hey! Careful!" Mal shouted and I turned to see one of the attendants taking Beast's jar and trapping our mother under it. "That's our mom."

"Lighten up, sis. They won't damage the merchandise," I said and she playfully punched my arm. Then, she pulled me into a hug that Carlos, Jay, Evie, and Ben soon joined in on.

I pulled Nadra into our little group hug. And Jay, ever the opportunist, cracked a big smile and said, "Let's get this party started."

The others laughed. Nadra glanced my way. "Ready for another abrupt sing-a-long?"

I sighed and stayed silent but, in the end, I slumped in defeat. "Alright, just this once."

The party was one of the best. We had won against the forces of fate that conspired against us and realized we could live as we chose. After the party, Nadra said that she'd help me investigate my transformations more in the hopes that I could use my father's powers for good and maybe even become his antithesis. I'd like to say that this was it for us and that on this day, we finally reached our happily ever after. Unfortunately, no matter what we wanted, no matter what we thought, this was only the beginning.

A/N: And the main story has finally finished. It took some time but I finally managed to get this one to you guys. And now that it's been released, it's time to start thinking about long term plans. I'm not sure how many of you have heard it but Descendants is getting a second movie, which I am super psyched for. Of course I wouldn't be able to write anything slightly canon until it came out, but there are other things. For the longest time, it felt as though Lev - despite getting tons of character development - doesn't really have his own story. So I was planning on doing that. Giving him and Nadra their own little adventure until Descendants 2 decides to make an appearance. So what do you guys think? Should I? The story itself hasn't really been written just yet. Mostly because I was planning on adding a few OCs here and there (if you want, you could submit a few). But how does that sound? Please review or PM to tell me what you think. For now, I'll get to work on a rough draft. But, if you guys just want it to end here, I'll take that into consideration as well.

Until next time, Arthur Dragonpen

Signing off.