Cotillion. it’s time.

I have a million thoughts in my head but just one feeling in my heart.

And I hope my heart is right.

The only event grander than Ben’s coronation ceremony was Cotillion.

For starters, it was being held on a sleek white party yacht called True Love that was docked in the marina. Auradon royal crests adorned either side of the yacht. Orbs of light hung from long cables strung over the deck. There were little round tables with lamps on them here and there, leaving plenty of room for people to dance. A set of stairs with a blue-and-gold-trimmed carpet led up to a stage. Everything looked incredible.

Partygoers boarded the yacht in front of roped-off fans and paparazzi, and a few, including Evie and Doug, stopped to talk with news reporters in front of the step and repeat. Evie wore a floor-length midnight-blue dress with black beading branching across it, a long blue cape, red gloves, and a thin gold choker featuring a red heart gem centerpiece. Her handbag was the shape of a poison apple with a bite taken out of it. And to top it all off, she wore Dizzy’s ruby-studded hair ornament clipped neatly to the side of her bun. Evie struck pose after pose for the cameras.

News reporters held microphones up to her. “Evie, you look beautiful!”

“Thank you,” said Evie.

“The dress is gorgeous! Did you design the barrette?”

“No, it’s not my creation, actually,” she said. “Many of the hair accessories this evening are by a fabulous new designer, Dizzy of the Isle!”

“Who’s your date?”

“This is my Doug.” Evie extended a hand, and Doug took it and moved closer to her. “Dopey’s son.”

He stood by her in his tan suit and black bow tie and waved.

Meanwhile, on the Isle, at Lady Tremaine’s Curl Up and Dye, Dizzy watched the live feed from the Cotillion on a boxy old TV. After Evie’s mention of her hair accessories, Dizzy shrieked.

“I made that! That’s me!” She squealed again with glee.

Lady Tremaine banged the floor above her, as if to say shut it.

Dizzy put a hand to her mouth and flinched at the sound. “Sorry, Granny!” She spun back around to face the TV. She couldn’t help smiling.

Jane and Carlos descended the steps to the party deck, past bushels of colorful flowers in clusters of white, yellow, and blue, toward the table where people served fruit punch. Carlos was super fashionable, as usual, in red knee-length pants and a black-and-white leather jacket. Jane’s gown was a long sparkling periwinkle dress with a magenta bow at the waist.

When Fairy Godmother spotted Jane with Carlos, her face lit up. “Jane! Jane, there you are, my dear one!” She made her way from the refreshments table to the dance floor, waving her magic wand and looking like a true fairy in a pale blue dress and hooded cape tied at the neck with a pale silk bow. “Everything looks beautiful, my love, but we need to ladle out the punch before the sherbet melts.”

“Mom,” said Jane.

Fairy Godmother looked at her expectantly.

“I have a date,” said Jane with a smile.

Fairy Godmother gasped and grinned. “A date?”

Jane nodded.

“Really!” Fairy Godmother looked at Carlos, then over the deck, searching.

Carlos awkwardly looked around.

Fairy Godmother rested a hand on his shoulder. “Do you have a date, too?”

“Yeah.” He gestured to Jane.

“Really!” said Fairy Godmother with a smile.

Carlos laughed. “Yeah.”

Fairy Godmother looked around again, not quite getting it.

“Mom.” Jane took Carlos’s hands.

Fairy Godmother looked down at their intertwined hands. Then she looked up from Jane to Carlos, realizing. “Bibbidi-bobbidi! Ooh!” she said with a great big smile.

Carlos let out a little laugh. He looked Jane in the eyes and nodded toward the dance floor. “After you.”

Jane walked off with Carlos, and they danced on the deck. He spun her and then kissed her hand. Evie and Doug were dancing there, too, along with Jay, who boogied with a group of girls. Jay looked handsome in his red-and-gold leather suit jacket and crimson fingerless gloves. The girls swooned. He moved to dance with Lonnie, whose dress was actually a coral pink jumpsuit with a long open skirt.

The music stopped, getting everyone’s attention. Young men in pale yellow suits lined the yacht’s steps, and in one unified motion they lifted their trumpets and began playing fanfare.

All eyes turned to Lumiere at the top of the steps. He had thin gray hair and resembled the candelabrum he had once been enchanted to be. That night he wore a white suit with gold epaulets and a pale gold bow tie. “The future…Lady Mal!” Lumiere announced.

Mal entered at the top of the staircase.

She looked stunning in her yellow dress bejeweled with blue gems, blue and yellow tulle, and a sparkling cape that trailed the ground behind her. Evie had edged up the look, adding a leather bracelet, boots, and a crown-esque hair ornament. Mal’s purple hair was in a pretty side braid that snaked down her shoulder. She looked down at all the people silently watching her from the ship’s deck. Mal’s heartbeat quickened. The throng responded to Mal’s purple hair with a murmur of surprise, which was drowned out by Mal’s friends, who clapped and cheered. Others joined in. Photographers turned all their video equipment on Mal.

Lumiere joined Mal at her side. “Work it, girl,” he whispered.

Mal giggled. She surveyed the crowd again.

Where is Ben?

Then she descended the steps toward the deck as everyone applauded.

Belle and Beast greeted Mal at the bottom of the stairs. Beast, in his royal-blue suit with gold sash and signature black bold-frame glasses, took Mal’s trembling hand.

“Hi,” said Mal, comforted by him.

“Ben’s on his way,” said Beast. “You look beautiful.”

Belle wore a gold dress and a delicate crystal-encrusted gold crown. She also took Mal’s hand and smiled lovingly. “So beautiful,” she said. “I know we were shocked at first, but you—you were exactly what Ben needs.” She was referring to the Family Day event, when Ben had first announced to Belle and Beast that Mal was his new girlfriend. The photographer had captured their shocked expressions upon hearing the news.

Beast gave Belle a little side hug. “And lucky for me, she doesn’t go by first impressions,” he said. He, Belle, and Mal laughed, though Mal’s laugh was nervous.

Evie could sense that Mal was apprehensive. In true best-friend fashion, Evie rushed to her side. “Hi!” She led Mal onto the deck. “How are you feeling?”

Mal looked at the cameras and guests. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“It’s okay. We’re here with you,” said Evie.

Mal grabbed Evie’s hands. More fanfare played. It was a great moment for the VKs. Mal and Evie beamed at each other.

Lumiere called out, “King Benjamin!”

Ben appeared at the top of the stairs in a sleek royal-blue silk jacket with gold accents. The belt he wore had a gold beast-emblem buckle. His honey-brown hair was swept across his forehead under his thick gold crown, and his blue eyes sparkled like stars. He looked every bit a king.

Everyone applauded. Mal couldn’t take her eyes off him. Ben nodded, and his eyes met Mal’s. She smiled at him. He walked down the stairs and paused at the bottom.

“Go get him,” Evie whispered to Mal.

Mal took a step forward.

Ben passed his parents without looking their way.

Okay…Belle mouthed to Beast at the slight.

Ben stopped in front of Mal and bowed.

Mal bowed back at him.

“Mal,” said Ben, coming up from his bow, “I wish I had time to explain….” He turned around and looked toward the top of the stairs.

Mal smiled.

Could this have something to do with all those not-so-secret discussions Ben has been having with Jane? wondered Mal.

Then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. The crowd gasped in shock.