Disclaimer: I don't own Descendants.

A/N: So I decided that I am completely fine if people take my ideas. If you like the idea of this, go ahead and try it out yourself. I'd prefer if people say they got the idea from me, but I won't attack you if you don't. I think we should be an open and loving fandom, and I don't want to be a part of the opposite.

Also, I have some ideas for fics, but I'm not promising anything just because I haven't had a great record with updates or uploading. Now, on with the story!

Going Soft

Mal will admit, she gets sick. Everyone gets sick. She isn't invincible. When you grow up on an island where the only food you eat is the garbage of kingdom, you get sick. It could be the moldy bread, it could be the meat that spoiled, it could be the rotten fruit. But you couldn't let that stop you. On the Isle, there were no sick days. You take a sick day, then no money, you don't eat, and someone could steal your stuff. Just because she's in the cushy kingdom of Auradon doesn't mean she has to be a cushy Auradonian. Going back to the Isle has shown her that.

So she sucked it up and got out of her damp-with-sweat sheets. And immediately ran to the bathroom connected to her room to kneel in front of the toilet. She's a little mad for wasting food, that's a luxury she wouldn't be able to afford on the Isle. Thankfully, she's not on the Isle at this time and getting new food won't be a struggle. So, when she was done, she quickly flushed the toilet and got up on her shaking legs. The daughter of Maleficent knew that if she just sat and rest, she would have a difficult time convincing her legs to move, so she had to keep fighting forward. After splashing water on her heated face, Mal brushed her teeth, and even used some of Evie's mouthwash, just to ensure the taste left her mouth. But, when she was done, she was good as new. She had to be.

Heading back into the bedroom, Mal got dressed. Thankfully, no one expected her to wear the fancy dresses everyday anymore so she felt comfortable going out in just jeans and a t-shirt. At the last minute, she decided for her signature Isle jacket today, it providing the comfort and strength it always does. Also, she hoped that anyone who saw it would know to leave her alone today. And if the paparazzi corner her again, she will throw up on them. All of them. Violently.

Evie walked in the room, having been gone all morning, presumably visiting Doug to talk about her dress business. Or the homework due. And despite having her head down, eyes scanning her tablet for something, Mal didn't really care right now, Evie understood what was going on as soon as she saw Mal leaning against the center table.

"Sick? Is it your stomach?" Evie asked gently, though giving her best friend the space she wanted.

"Ugh, yeah." Mal complained, "Out of nowhere. The food here is better, I literally don't understand."

Putting her tablet down, Evie leaned against the other side of the table.

"Do you want to rest today? I heard people do that here."

Mal would've laughed if she felt up to it, but instead just shot her friend a look and grabbed her backpack.

"I'll live. Auradon has already made me soft, I can't let that go too far." Mal explained as she started for the door. "Meet you at breakfast?"

Evie nodded, letting Mal have her time alone. Usually they walked together, but Evie understood her friend better than anyone else.

~:-:~

Mal closed the door, ensured no one was in the hallway, and slouched against the door. Wow, Auradon really had made her soft. But she would get over it, like always.

Standing up before anyone could see her moments of weakness, Mal makes her way to the dining hall, sweating by the time she gets there. She just sits through breakfast, trying to eat her toast and some slices of an apple. The other VK's just let her sit quietly, having gone through this before. Usually, on the Isle, Mal would get a lot more irritable and the best course of action would be to leave her alone. They diverted the attention away from her through breakfast, and she was able to be quiet throughout her classes. She'd get through this.

Except she had a little problem. Actually a big problem. Called a mob of paparazzi. She takes one walk to her science class at the opposite side of the campus and being the girlfriend (and probable future queen) of the King means there's always a lot of questions for her.

And no, she did not throw up on them. She didn't have the chance. The walk halfway across campus left her exhausted and dizzy. All that, combined with feeling overwhelmed by the reporters, left Mal not being able to see straight. The last thing she saw as she was falling to the ground was Ben's worried face pushing aside some reporters.

~:-:~

Her head hurt. And her stomach. And it was way too hot.

Opening her eyes, Mal didn't recognize where she was. It was a room full of cots and some medical equipment, but she was wearing her regular clothes, so this wasn't a hospital. Probably the school infirmary. Mal tried to get up from the bed, but someone came into the room and stopped her.

"Don't get up Mal." Her boyfriend told her. "You passed out in the courtyard. Give yourself a break and just rest." He told her, going to sit at the bottom edge of her cot.

"No, I'm fine, I just need to get up." She told him, trying to get up, but he gently pushed her back down.

"No, you don't. Fairy Godmother has told your other teachers that you won't be attending class today or tomorrow, and Evie is going to pick up the homework for you. Now, tell me. Why didn't you take the day off? Students do that all the time. Usually you have to go to the infirmary to get that verified, but not like this!" He asked.

"I don't need a sick day. We don't have those on the Isle."

"Mal, this isn't the Isle. We have sick days here. I even take sick days. Don't worry about that. Sometimes, you need to take a break. Need to give your body a break."

"But, I can get through it." She tried to convince him.

"No, Mal, you need to rest. Auradon has different diseases that you aren't used to, your immune system is still wired to the Isle of the Lost. You can move to your room, because I know you won't stay here, but you can't leave there. Evie volunteered to watch you, to make sure you let yourself heal. Just, do it for me, okay? I was terrified when you went down, I had no idea if you were hurt or even worse. Evie was crying, she was across the courtyard and just saw you fall. Jay was about to fight all of those reporters, thinking they did something to you, and it was Carlos who told me you had been sick today."

Mal felt really guilty for making the people she cares about worry. She never wanted that. Wait…

"My fall was on television, oh my god, what are they saying about me?" She asked, getting worried. She didn't want the entire kingdom to worry, or worse, think that she was scared of the reporters."

"Fairy Godmother took care of that. She told everyone that you had fallen ill, needed your time to rest, and that you're expected to be completely fine. She also banned any and all reporters from the campus and we're upping security to make sure that happens." Ben promised.

Mal chuckled at that. "Good. I was prepared to throw up on them, but I guess that might not have gone over well…" She admitted.

"Nope, that definitely would not have. I think banning them is a better option."

They both chuckled at that.

"Now, I'll go talk to the Nurse and set up getting you back to your room. Stay here, and stay in bed, i'll be right back." Ben insisted.

Mal nodded her head, and actually stayed in bed. Okay, maybe she can stay in bed. Maybe rest is a good thing. As long as she doesn't scare her friends, or Ben, she'll do it.

Laying her head back down, Mal was left to her own thoughts as Ben left. She's going to have to get used to Auradon ways, and this is a start. Maybe she can go a little soft, that doesn't mean she changes too much. It's just a part of living in Auradon.

A/N: You guys like? This might be a mini-series. Not just with Mal. I have a lot of ideas, and they're with and without pairings.

Also! I have a tumblr for this account and i'm slowly working on it. If you are interested, it's called ladydollyface. Look me up if you feel like it!

Evil Dreams!