Free Descendants Junior Novel by Disney Book Group Page A

“One…two…”
    “Sort of…” Ben said, waving at Mal, who waved back. “Mal!” he called to her.
    “Three!” said the photographer.
    Belle’s and Beast’s frozen looks of shock were captured in the photo.
    “Mal! Mal, I want to introduce you to my parents,” he said, going over to her. They hugged. He turned to his parents. “This is Mal. From the island. My girlfriend.”
    “Hi,” said Belle, gawking.
    “Hi,” said Mal.
    Beast waved.
    “I was thinking maybe she could join us for lunch,” said Ben.
    “Of course,” Beast said. “Any friend of Ben’s—”
    “Um, I actually came with my friends,” said Mal.
    “Well,” said Belle, “you should…invite them.”
    Belle gazed past Mal at the girl’s three friends. Jay was drinking directly from the chocolate fountain as Carlos, his face smeared with chocolate, jumped up and down, giggling, and dipped
more strawberries into the fountain. Evie bounced Dude up and down in her arms.
    Belle smiled kindly. “The more, the merrier!”
    “Okay!” said Mal, smiling. “I’ll go grab them.” She turned to get her friends.
    “How about a game of croquet before lunch?” asked Beast.
    “Of course!” said Mal.
    “Game on!” said Ben, high-fiving his dad.
    “Game on,” said Beast. He laughed. Belle smiled.
    As Mal and Ben walked toward the croquet lawn, Belle’s and Beast’s smiles vanished. Belle nearly fainted, and Beast caught her.
    Mal happily trotted toward her friends.
Maybe we will have a nice time after all
, she thought. She walked onto the lawn, picked up a croquet stick, and hit the ball. Students frolicked
around her. Mal smiled at an older woman in a pale pink suit, Queen Leah.
    “Hello there,” said Queen Leah, strolling up to her with a smile.
    “Hi,” said Mal.
    “Now, have we met?” asked Queen Leah.
    “No, I don’t think so,” said Mal. “I’m new. I’m sort of like a transfer student.”
    Audrey appeared beside them in a pink dress, holding a glass of punch.
    “Grammy!” Audrey said.
    “Oh, Audrey!” said the woman. “Give Grammy a kiss, dear.”
    “‘Grammy’?”
said Mal.
    “Sleeping Beauty’s mother,” said Audrey. She turned to her grandmother. “Grammy, I don’t think you want to be talking to this girl. Unless you feel like taking
another hundred-year nap.” Audrey shot Mal a nasty smile.
    Queen Leah stared hard at Mal. “What?” She backed away from Mal in horror, mistaking her for Maleficent.
“You!”
she cried. “How are you here? And how have
you stayed so young?”
    Everybody in the garden grew quiet and gathered around them.
    Ben rushed over to them. “Queen Leah, it’s okay,” he said. “Maleficent is still on the island. This is her daughter, Mal.” He put a hand on Mal’s arm.
“Don’t you remember my proclamation to give the new generation a chance?” He smiled at her.
    “A chance to
what
, Ben?” said Queen Leah. “
Destroy
us?” She looked around at all the adults. “You remember, don’t you?” she said,
turning to her audience. “The poison apples. And the spells!” Beast, Belle, Fairy Godmother, and the others all stared at her solemnly. “The spells…My daughter was raised
by fairies because of your mother’s curse. Her first words, her first steps—I missed it
all
!” Queen Leah turned away, sobbing quietly. Mal went to comfort her.
    “I’m so sorry—” said Mal.
    Chad jumped between them. “Go away! Step away from her!” Chad told Mal.
    “Don’t do this, Chad,” said Ben.
    “What? They were raised by their
parents
, Ben,” said Chad. “What do you think villains teach their children? Kindness? Fair play? No way, okay?”
    The other students looked at Mal and her friends with growing suspicion.
    Chad turned to face Mal. “You stole another girl’s boyfriend.” He pointed at Jay. “You enjoy hurting people.” He spun on Evie. “And you! You’re nothing
but a gold digger and a cheater!” He smiled and looked at the audience.
    Evie