*Third Person P.O.V.

"Once upon a time... Well, I think I'll let you see the story for itself."

The halls of Auradon Prep fill with the excited chatter of young heroines telling of their summer adventures. Anxelin, daughter of Rapunzel and Flynn (aka Eugene) crowds against the lockers with Jessica, daughter of Aladdin and Jasmine; Coral, daughter of Ariel's sister Andrina; and Spring, daughter of Snow White, and tells them about the journey her, her father, and her twin younger brothers, Flynn Jr and Riker, took part in during the summer holiday. Aziz, the older brother of Jessica, leans on the wall further down the corridor complaining to two other tourney players: Seth, son of Snow White and older twin to Spring and Evan, son of Elsa, about the upcoming duties he'll have to endure when next summer comes, signaling the end of his high school life and the beginning of his life as a representative of the Agrabah district of Auradon. Many others crowd together, exclaiming in joy how happy they are to see each other and retelling captivating stories. They talk about the new school year and what they think is to come. Or more precisely, who, if anyone, is coming from the Isle of The Lost to Auradon and, if so, who their parents are.

Maybe it's the commotion of a new school year or perhaps the questions it arises that causes no one to notices the king talking to a should be enemy in a nook semi tucked away from the rest of the school. At first glance, one would think the two are having a disagreement by the way their hands move and the harshness in their voices, but upon closer examination, you can see the caring in their eyes. Both know to act civilized with the matter at hand.

Chad Charming, once best friends with his companion- no, more like brothers actually, slouches against the wall, biting his lip to stop his smart comeback, barley able to retain a smirk at the king's loud, worried whispers. Not that he finds the situation funny. That is certainly not the case, but the way Ben deals with his concerns can sometime seem... out of hand.

"When my dad finds out, even though he's not the king anymore- And not to mention when the council-" Ben speaks in broken sentences to his former best friend. The council, better known as The Auradon Council of Representatives, is made up of many of the once kings and queens of their own respective lands. Chad's parents are both apart of this council, as are Ben's. When a matter is too big for just the king to decide or if it affects every district, a council meeting will be called. Of course, the king gets the final say, but the council helps give him an insight on how the matter will affect everyone in the kingdom. When the children from the Isle came to Auradon, a council meeting was called. Most had refused the idea, much like king Beast had, but in the end it was decided they would be given a choice.

Chad reaches forward and loosely clamps a hand on the young king's shoulder, looking him in the eye. After a moment, Ben calms down from his rant and shoots the young Charming a grateful look. Both get lost in the moment, smiling and comforting each other just like when they were kids. Maybe if the villains' children never came or if Chad could have accepted them they could still have this friendship and not be forced into different factions: those who are happy the children from the Isle of The Lost are here and those who are not.

"You need to take a second and breathe Ben. Trust me, I know what you're feeling right now- Hell, I probably know more. You're going to have to make the announcement later today though. You can't keep them hidden in your summer cottage for the rest of their lives." Chad reasons with his former friend. The middle of the summer holiday, around the beginning of July, Ben had sent and brought four children to Auradon from the Isle, but anyone has yet to find that out.

"I know. But it's not the other three I'm worried about, it's-" Ben pushes his lips together, eyes darting around to see if anyone had overheard their conversation. No one seemed to be paying them the slightest bit of attention. Chad nods his head, showing his understanding of the situation. If it were anyone else it would be different, they both think, but of course that would make life too easy. There's no doubt in either of their minds that the people of Auradon will welcome three of the four with, mostly, open arms, but the last. That might come as more difficult.

"Hey Ben!" Both heads snap to the direction of the call to be met with the sight of Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Doug making their way to the king. Their eyes darken slightly with curiosity and anger when they see the heir to the Charming Representative seat. Reaching the duo, Mal captures Ben in a quick hug then stands with her arm around his waist, almost in a possessive jester, but it is clear to Chad it is more protective then staking her claim on the king. Doug stands protectively in front of Evie, half shielding her from Charming's sight, with Carlos and Jay in between the two couples. "What do you want, Chad?" Mal sneers, making her dislike for him clear, the other's mirroring the dislike.

Chad ignores the 5 heated stares and turns his attention back to the king who looks at him with something along the lines of hopefulness maybe? Hopeful that maybe he'll put water under the bridge and try to befriend the villains. He can't do that though. Not yet anyway. "Like it concerns you." He snaps at the purple hair ex-villainess. Meeting Ben's eyes one last time, he strides down the hallway, making sure to bump shoulders with his ex-best friend in the process.

"What was he bothering you about, Ben?" Jay asks, cracking his knuckles to slightly emphasize his point that he wouldn't care to hurt the Charming if needed. Ben shakes his head though and reflects on what he saw when meeting his former friend's eyes. Determination. Caring. Protectiveness. An undying burn of will. Love. And so many more. He's sure his own probably reflected many of the same. In the short span of time, that second they took to looked into each other's souls, Ben's more than certain of one thing. If the worst comes out of this situation, Chad will fight to the death if it means to protect her. He also realizes he would happily be labeled as a traitor to ensure the same.

"It was nothing." The king replies with a faraway voice, eyes glazed over and brows crimpled in concentration. The five spare looks at each other and come to a silent agreement it's not nothing, and make a plan to confront their friend about it after he gives the welcoming announcements, like the king does every school year. With that, the six make their way to the grand hall, where most of the school balls and such are held, five with no clue of the shock that will come to the entire kingdom and the last wondering how long the horrified pause will last before all hell breaks loose.

*With Chad

"No, I don't wanna go. Please!" She yells... I try. I really try. The arms holding me back are too strong... I can't save her

"Let her go! Let her go!" They don't listen... Just keep moving...

Tears streaming down my checks, clouding my vision... A thud and the clink of a lock sound through the air. Did they throw her in a trunk?... I try to fight them... I have to get her back... But I can't... I see black...

I'm on the forest floor... How did I get in the forest floor?... Where did she go?...

'They took her...'

'They took her... I was suppose to protect her... They told me to protect her... When those people came.. I was suppose to protect her... "Chad!... Chad!"... is that a voice... someone's calling me... I see the tire tracks... The tire tracks of the car that took her... They took her... "Chad!"...

I can't answer... I failed... They took her... They took her and I let them... I don't deserve to be found... The cold is seeping through my cloths, but I don't care... I force my body to curl on the snow covered floor... I let tears stream down my face... they freeze when they meet the air...

"CHAD!"

I let them take her... I let them take her... And I let myself fade to black again

Chad shakes his head, forcing the memory out. He looks up to find himself alone in a deserted hallway. Looking up at the clock, he sees there's only an hour until Ben makes the welcoming announcements, but he can't bring himself to care. The memories still haunt him, even after almost 4 and half years. He knows it's better now, that she's back... but just remembering that day brings pain. Slowly sliding down the wall, he lets his dry sobs echo off the walls. He knows no matter how sad he gets, he'll never cry. He used all his tears when they took her... and he'll never be himself until she's safely in front of him again..