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“No problem. There’s always next year,” Coach Yao said. “You’ve got a lot of time to decide.”
Jay smiled. The coach was right. He was no longer trapped on the Isle of the Lost. In a few weeks, he had visiting day to look forward to at Sherwood Forest University; the itinerary included a lot of merrymaking. He had all the time in the world right now, and he wanted to spend a good chunk of it with the friends who helped him become the person he was today.
he week flew by, and finally it was time for Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos to head back to the Isle of the Lost. Mal and Evie had packed so heavily for their short trip that Ben had to help Lumiere and Cogsworth carry their trunks to the royal limousine.
“You know you’re only going for the weekend, right?” he asked, grunting under the weight of one particularly large case. “You’re only there for two nights.”
“Two nights! Oh my! Thank you for reminding me! I almost forgot my second alternate evening gown!” said Evie, who flew b
ack into her room.
Mal smiled. “I’m sorry. Most of it is Evie’s.”
Carlos and Jay walked right behind them, each boy holding one small backpack. “I travel light,” said Jay.
“No baggage,” quipped Carlos with a grin. “At least not anymore.”
Mal threw her arms around Ben. “Thanks for doing this. Letting us go back to talk to the kids, I mean.”
“Yeah, man, we’re so pumped that more kids like us are going to be able to go to Auradon Prep!” said Carlos, bumping fists with Jay.
“I am too,” said Ben. He really was glad, although he was still a bit worried about where the new VKs would stay over the summer.
Evie rushed back, wheeling another trunk.
“Wait, these things have wheels?” asked Ben as Lumiere and Cogsworth staggered beside him.
“Yes, if you set them down the right way,” said Evie. “How do you think I travel?” She chuckled.
They walked out of the school’s front doors and loaded their bags into the car. Evie and the boys said their good-byes to Ben and settled into their seats.
Mal lingered, a wistful smile on her face. “I wonder if there’ll be a day when we can bring every villain kid over to Auradon.”
“There will be. We just need to take it one step at a time. It’s too risky right now, especially with Uma still out there.”
“Uma,” said Mal with a grimace.
“You take care,” he said.
“I will. You too. Are you okay?” she asked, putting a hand on his cheek.
“A little nervous about the NAFFA trade meeting. No one can seem to agree lately! I have so many competing proposals to sort out.”
“I know you’ll make it work. Say hi to the dwarfs,” she said, getting into the car.
Evie popped her head out. “Give them my love!”
“I will,” said Ben, waving them off. He stood watching by the entrance until the royal limousine disappeared out of sight.
• • •
Just as Ben had predicted, every kingdom represented at the trade council argued that their goods were the most valuable.
“They’re diamonds,” said Grumpy. “We need to be able to charge top Auradon dollar!”
“Diamonds they might be, but our magic potions from Camelot are far more valuable,” argued Merlin.
“Everyone will look withered without our age-defying lotions,” Eugene Fitzherbert reminded them. “The sun-drop golden flowers only grow in Corona.”
