Mal (Descendants)

Maleficent Bertha "Mal" is one of the main characters from the Descendants Franchise. She has appeared in all three films.

She is the daughter of Maleficent, the villain from the film Sleeping Beauty.

Descendants
In the first film, Mal, along with her friends Evie, Jay and Carlos are all living on the Isle of the Lost along with the rest of the Disney villains. The four of them get told that they have been chosen to attend Auradon Prep. Her mother gives her the task of retrieving the Fairy Godmother's wand so that she can break down the barrier on the Isle and let all villains roam free, and gifts her with her spell book. When they arrive in Auradon, they are greeted by Prince Ben (son of Beast and Belle) and his girlfriend Princess Audrey (daughter of Sleeping Beauty) who doesn't approve of the four villain kids.

Mal and Evie get shown to their shared bedroom which Mal disapproves of but Evie secretly loves. At the end of the day, the four discuss their strategy for stealing the magic wand and try to find it using Evie's mother's magic mirror. The wand is kept at the museum and after Jay sets the alarm off from trying to steal it, the four escape and realise this means that they have to attend school the next day.

Whilst in the classroom, they meet Jane (daughter of Fairy Godmother) who Mal finds out has got insecurities about her appearance. Mal agrees to try and help by casting a spell to give her better hair and attempts to convince Jane to ask her mother to use the wand. After hearing about Jane's hair, Lonnie (daughter of Mulan) also asks for her help and offers her money. Jane cannot convince her mother to help her with magic but they find out that the wand will be present at Ben's coronation, though unfortunately, only his family and girlfriend will be in reach of it.

The four VK's (villain kids) decide to make a love spell using a batch of cookies to get Ben to fall in love with Mal so that she can be front row at his coronation. The spell works and Ben declares his love for her to the entire school in a song, which obviously upsets his 'girlfriend' Audrey. The two then go on a date to the enchanted lake where Mal becomes conflicted with her feelings and who she should be.

At the school's family day, the four of them are allowed to talk to their parents via video chat. Mal begins to realise that all her mother cares about is gaining power and that she hasn't missed her at all. Mal is then introduced as Ben's new girlfriend to his parents, King Beast and Queen Belle. The two of them are shocked but learn to accept his decision. She then meets Audrey's grandmother, Queen Leah, who mistakes her for her mother and becomes very upset and scared. Ben intervenes and explains about the kids from the Isle now attending Auradon Prep. Mal attends to apologise but is stopped by Prince Chad (son of Cinderella) who has never trusted her or her friends. The Auradon kids then turn against them, causing Mal to reverse Jane's hair when she starts to make fun of her.

After struggling with her emotions, Mal goes back the plan of stealing the wand and going back home. At the coronation, whilst riding in the carriage with Ben he eats the cupcake she had intended to give him later, which contains the anti-love spell. She finds out that he has been free of the spell since swimming in the enchanted lake which has special powers, and that his feelings for her have been true for a while now. Mal begins to question what she should be doing and if she should continue being happy or fulfill her mother's wishes.

During the coronation ceremony, the VK's parents are watching from their homes and are shocked when it is Jane who snatches the wand from her mother in order to change her appearance. Whilst she does this, the barrier surrounding the Isle of the Lost is broken. Mal manages to diffuse the situation by taking the wand for herself and deciding that good is better than evil. Her mother then turns up and freezes everyone in time, except for the kids from the Isle. Mal finally stands up to her mother and shrinks her down to a small lizard using a spell, it is revealed that she has shrunk to the size of the love in her heart.

She then unfreezes everyone and after convincing Fairy Godmother not to be too hard on Jane, they all celebrate at the after party and Mal dances with Ben. She then talks to the audience and says "You didn't think this was the end of the story, did you?" whilst smirking and her eyes glow green.

Descendants 2
In the second film, Mal is seen to be struggling with her life in Auradon. She has changed her hair and outfits in order to 'fit in' although she seems to be relying on her spell book quite a lot. After using it in front of Evie, she is reminded that she shouldn't be dishonest to King Ben. Carlos goes to her and asks for advice in how to ask Jane out to the Cotillion dance. She gives a sweet that will make him tell the truth but before he can eat it, Dude (the school's dog) grabs it and eats it making it possible for him to talk.

She then proceeds to go on a date with Ben and he is shocked when he finds that she has made all of his favourite foods. Whilst going through the picnic blanket he discovers the spell book and the two gets into an argument. She admits that she is finding it difficult to fit in and to get used to her new celebrity status.

Mal manages to get through the barrier and returns to the Isle. Once home, she goes to visit the hairdressers and finds Dizzy (daughter of Drizella) who offers to change her look. Dizzy dies her hair back from blonde to purple and Mal is really impressed with the result. Whilst there, Harry (son of Captain Hook) appears and steals all of the money. He notices Mal and tells her he can't wait to tell Uma (daughter of Ursula) that she is back.

She is at her home spraypainting the walls when Ben comes to visit her. She is shocked and tells him she won't be coming back with him as she doesn't belong her. He leaves disheartened and Evie comes to talk to her. She apologises for not noticing how much Mal was struggling and tells her she understands that Mal doesn't want to return with her but the two agree that nothing will change with their friendship.

It is then revealed that Ben has been kidnapped and in order to get him back, Mal must go and meet Uma. She visits her at her mother's restaurant and the two wager a bet on an arm wrestle. Uma wins the contest and reveals that as her prize Mal must present her with the Fairy Godmother's wand. Whilst Jay and Carlos go back to Auradon to retrieve a fake wand, Mal and Evie go back to visit Dizzy.

Once Jay and Carlos return, the VKs then go to meet Uma and her gang on the pirate ship. Uma demands that Mal use the wand in order to prove it is real so Mal pretends to cast a spell on Dude to make him talk which is already possible from earlier. Mal hands over the wand and gets Ben in return. The two groups get into a sword fight but Mal and her friends manage to get away.

Back in Auradon, Mal must decide what she wants to do and what will make her happy. She is told by her friends that she does not need to pretend to be anyone else in order to fit in.

At Cotillion, she is shocked when Ben turns up with Uma as his date and confesses that he felt a connection with her back on the Isle. Lumiere then presents to gift Mal with the present that Ben had been getting made, a portrait of them both in which Mal appears as her true self. She realises that he has loved her for who she is all along and comes to the conclusion that he is under a spell. She breaks it with true love's kiss and Uma leaps into the water using her mother's seashell to transform into an octopus. Mal transforms herself into a dragon in order to fight her but it is broken up when Ben intervenes.

Mal and Ben reunite and agree to have no more secrets. She also gives her spell book to Fairy Godmother to put back into the museum.

Afterwards, Cotillion continues and everyone celebrates.

Descendants 3
In the third film, the VKs are visiting Auradon to pick another four kids to take back to Auradon. They pick Dizzy, Celia (daughter of Dr. Facilier) and Squeaky and Squirmy (twin sons of Mr. Smee). They inform them they will be picking them all back up in one week.

Before the group head back to the Isle of the Lost to pick up the new VKs, Ben gathers everyone in Auradon and proposes to her. She accepts and everyone is celebrating with them except Audrey who admits that it should be her with Ben and that he is only with Mal because she put a spell on him in the first place. Mal tells her that they have somewhere to be and leaves. Whilst going through the barrier after picking the new VKs up, Hades tries to get through the barrier. Mal again transforms into a dragon to try and fight back but is attacked by Hades. She manages to push him back in but tells her friend that it feels like her power has been drained.

Meanwhile, Audrey has stolen the Queen's crown and Maleficent's scepter although noone knows that it is her just yet. During a meeting with Beast and Belle, Mal admits that the only thing to keep Auradon safe would be to shut the barrier to the Isle for good. Although Ben protests at first, he also realises that this must be the option. Mal later runs into Audrey, who she realises is the thief and while confronting her, Audrey turns her into an old hag. Luckily, her friends then appear and the group decide the only option is to go back to the Isle and try and retrieve Hades' ember, which is the only thing more powerful than the scepter.

Celia admits that she knows how to get into Hades home as she used to work for him and Mal tells her she will joining the group on this mission. Mal and Celia go and try and steal the ember whilst Hades is having a nap. Whilst sneaking around, she almost grabs the ember when Hades wakes up and grabs her arm. It is then revealed that he happens to be her estranged father. The two argue and Mal demands that he be a father for once and help her by giving her the ember. He gives her it but says it will not work its full potential for her.

The VKs then head back over the bridge but are shocked when Harry and Gil (son of Gaston) manage to dive through the barrier. They are even more shocked with Uma reappears and steals the ember. The group decide to join teams when Mal agrees to let all villain kids come to Auradon if they would like and they proceed to try and stop Audrey. The group go to the castle and are involved in a fight with a dozen knights who have been brought to life by Audrey.

The girls agree to go and find Audrey but decide to go back to Evie's new house to make a plan. Audrey puts a spell on the house and boards all of the windows and doors up with wood. Together, the girls manage to also cast a spell to be able to get out of the house.

Mal and some of the others go to the Fairy Cottage to try and find Audrey but instead find Chad, who at first was trying to help Audrey but has now been locked in a cupboard. They release him and the group continue.

After it is revealed that Mal lied and the barrier will be closed for good to avoid any more villains trying to escape, Celia steals the ember and throws it into a bird bath, destroying all of its powers. Everyone but Mal is then turned to stone. She runs after Uma and Harry and begs for their help, but they decline to help and she continues alone.

She finds Audrey, who has taken Celia hostage. Mal tries to defeat her alone but is struggling until Uma arrives and the two combine their powers to reignite the ember, defeating Audrey and putting her into a coma.

Afterwards, she tells everyone that the only person strong enough to revive Audrey would be Hades. Once people protest that he will not help them, she admits that he is her father and might help her if she asks. Hades is brought to the palate and brings her back to life before being sent back to the Isle. Mal and Ben both apologise to Audrey and say it has been a long time coming.

After all is back to normal, at her engagement party she declares to all in attendance that she can only be Queen of Auradon if she is also Queen of the Isle and that she thinks the barrier should be taken down once and for all. Ben agrees and with the help of Fairy Godmother's wand she remove the barrier.

At the end, everyone celebrates together and Hades also makes an appearance to ask if he will be invited to the wedding.

Descendants: Wicked World
Mal returned in the short series and appears in most episodes.

Songs

 * "Rotten to the Core"
 * "Evil Like Me"
 * "If Only"
 * "Set It Off"
 * "Ways to Be Wicked"
 * "Space Between"
 * "It's Goin' Down"
 * "You and Me"
 * "Good to Be Bad"
 * "Do What You Gotta Do"
 * "Night Falls"
 * "One Kiss"
 * "My Once Upon a Time"
 * "Break This Down"

Family

 * Hades - Mal's father.
 * Maleficent - Mal's mother.

Friends

 * Evie
 * Jay
 * Carlos
 * Jane
 * Lonnie

Romantic

 * King Ben - Mal's boyfriend throughout the three films who becomes her fiancé in Descendants 3.

Enemies

 * Uma
 * Harry
 * Princess Audrey