I've been trying to start this for weeks now, and have finally managed to stop fighting quite so continuously with the characters, much less the plot. I still need to hash out some general information, but I have quite a few details about most of the characters which, while completely random, are quite helpful. Please pardon the slight muselessness of this chapter; I had no idea how to start this story. I will doubtlessly end up rewriting this one. Next chapter should... hopefully... be a little better. And longer. (Actually, most full chapters in my chapter fics are around 2,100 words, but this one's a bit short.)
Word count: 1,665
"Do you really think this is a good idea, Ben?" Mal asked, locking eyes with him in an effort to force him to be utterly truthful with her.
"I think it's only fair," he said honestly. "You got a second chance, and look what happened. Why shouldn't others get a chance?"
"Because others want nothing more than to destroy Auradon," she warned. "There are plenty of people on that island who wouldn't hesitate to destroy the barrier around the Isle."
"Neither did you," he pointed out gently.
"I hesitated," she grumbled stubbornly, looking away. "To be fair."
Ben smiled. "So tell me, really: what do you think?"
The fairy let out a heavy sigh. "I think it's a bad idea. However," she interrupted him before he could start to protest, "...I also think you're right. As usual." Ben chuckled. "I also think that the others should be let in on this, before it's announced. Together, the four of us know most of the kids on the Isle. We know which ones are most certainly not to be trusted, and which ones are most likely not to destroy your little kingdom."
"And which ones are in the need of the most help," he reminded her.
She sighed. "That, too."
"All right, then. Go get them, and we can talk about it."
"Jamie, definitely," Jay said immediately when asked.
Mal gave him a sidelong look. "Jamie Hook? I thought you hated her."
He shrugged. "I don't hate her, exactly. We fought a lot because she was always stealing stuff I was trying to steal."
"Hell forbid," Mal mock gasped, a hand over her heart.
Jay made a face at her. "But she always wanted to get off the Isle. She was insanely jealous when she heard we were leaving. Made a point of popping in my window the night before and telling me so."
"I don't think Jamie would be a problem," Carlos agreed. "She's more interested in traveling the world than destroying it. Bit of a kleptomaniac, but you know - blood of pirates."
"So, the daughter of Captain Hook, then?" Ben asked, confirming. Evie and Mal nodded in agreement.
"Well, if you bring Jamie, you have to bring Archie," Evie said firmly. "They're practically brother and sister."
"Archie... would be..?" Ben queried.
Mal waved him off. "Oh, son of Ursula. Evie, he's scared of his own shadow. Do you really think he'd make it in Auradon Prep?"
"All the better," she said decisively. "Archie's less destructive than the others, too. Mal, you can't split the two up. Jamie's the only reason Archie's survived the Isle for this long. Without her, you're right - he's scared of his own shadow."
"I think he's more evil than you think, Evie," Carlos said nervously. "He almost threw me off a rooftop once."
"Hm," Mal mused. "I would think drowning would be more of his thing. You know, son of the sea witch and all."
"Drowning where, exactly?"
"I am completely and utterly lost," Ben complained, leaning back in his chair and tossing his pencil onto the table. "You four can duke it out and then tell me what you decide." He was promptly ignored.
"Well, all of them are evil, to some degree," Evie pointed out. "It is the Isle of the Lost, after all. Populated entirely by villains, sidekicks, minions, and children of the three."
"Except that one kid - oh, what was his name? Mother Gothel adopted him. I almost felt bad for him even then," Mal admitted.
"Oh, yeah, I remember him. Garrett, or something, right?" Jay agreed. "He was only half villain, right?"
"His dad was a hero, or that's what they told him, anyway." Evie picked at something under one of her nails. "But that's all they told him, as far as I know."
"Mother Gothel adopted him?" Ben asked. A chorus of agreement rose from the four villain kids. "I think it's only fair to help him, then. It sounds like he probably needs it. Is there anyone else?"
"Stick to four," Mal advised. "Four is a good number. Two boys and two girls."
Ben nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. So who should be the fourth one?"
The four villain kids looked between each other, trying to come up with a decision. At last, Evie said tentatively, "What about Beth?"
"Bethany Wo- oh, no, Evie," Mal protested immediately. "No. We are not bringing Beth here."
"Oh, come on, Mal," Evie complained. "I know the two of you don't exactly get along, but -"
"No," Mal said firmly, green eyes flashing. "She's too dangerous. She'll tear this place apart."
"I don't think it's such a bad idea," Jay piped up. Mal blinked at him in surprise, and he leaned forward in his chair. "I mean, she's bad, sure, but maybe she wouldn't be if she got off the Isle. Look at us. We were the worst kids around - rotten to the core, remember? But we chose good anyway."
"Who is this Beth, anyway?" Ben asked, once again lost.
Mal sighed. "Bethany Wolf," she said sourly. "Daughter of the Big Bad Wolf."
"You want to bring a wolf here."
"Not a wolf. A Wolf, capital W," Evie explained. "She's just as smart as any of us, just as capable of speech. She's capable of taking human form, to boot."
"Not that she ever does," Mal pointed out.
Evie waved her off and turned to Carlos. "What do you think, Carlos?"
"You have to agree with me here," Mal broke in, spreading her hands in a gesture of exasperation. "You hated Beth as much as me."
"I didn't hate her," he said quietly. "I was afraid of her. And... maybe it's not such a bad idea." Mal stared at him, and he hurried to continue before she could cut him off. "Beth is bad. She's as wicked as they come. Wolves are a wicked sort of animal, after all. But she's not quite her father. She never tried to kill me, or anyone else - just scared us all into thinking she was going to. Crazy as it sounds, I think it would do her good to come to Auradon. And as wicked as Wolves are... aren't dark fairies usually just as evil?"
Mal gave him a long stare, unable to believe her ears. Unfortunately... he was right.
At last, she sighed. "I still don't think this is a good idea," she admitted. "But it looks like I'm overruled."
"So, let me see if I've got this right," Ben said. "The daughter of Captain Hook. The son of Ursula. The adoptive son of Gothel. And the daughter of the Big Bad Wolf?" Glances, uncertainty, but eventual affirmative nods. "All right, then," he decided, marking the names down. "I'll make the arrangements.
A few days later...
A scratching at the door alerted them to her presence. "Finally," the girl grumbled, coming to her feet and going to the door. She brushed her lush black curls behind her ear again, boots clicking against the wooden floor. She opened the door, admitting a dark shape that, as soon as it was through the door, grew in size again, taking the form of a she-wolf that stood easily taller than the humans in the room. "You took your time."
Yellow eyes glowed at the girl. "Oh, shut it, Jamie. Be glad I'm here at all. Although you won't be happy about what I have to say." Her great white fangs clicked together as she snapped her jaws in irritation at the end of the sentence.
"Well? Speak up." Jamie's growl was comparable to that of the Wolf. She hopped up to sit on the back of the couch, perching on the edge like a vulture. The boy on the seat turned around to listen better. "We don't have all day."
"No, we don't," the Wolf agreed, flattening her ears. "In fact, I'm pretty sure our parents will be calling us any minute now. They're sending us away. To a different school." She paused for effect. "In Auradon."
Jamie made a choking sound. The boy next to her coughed. "Say what now?"
The Wolf blinked, silent agreement. "Auradon Prep. Where Mal's group went last year."
Jamie and the dark-haired boy exchanged a glance. Mal and her group were almost never spoken of anymore, except in tones of utter contempt and revulsion. For a villain kid to choose good - it was unthinkable. Yet that was exactly what they had done. "Are you sure, Beth?" he ventured.
"If I wasn't, Archie, I wouldn't be here," she growled through her teeth. He flinched, even though logically he knew her anger wasn't really directed at him. "And I don't think we have a choice about it."
"This is bad," Jamie muttered.
"Oh, it gets better," Beth grumbled. "We have company. As if being stuck with you two wasn't bad enough, we have to deal with Garrett."
"Oh, that's just bloody brilliant," Jamie exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air and jumping up off the couch to pace the room. "That's just bloody brilliant. Really? Garrett? Out of all the kids they could have chosen!"
A distant howl reached them through the walls. Beth sighed and stood. "That's my cue. Your parents will be here soon too. Better figure out what to say." She shook out her fur and shrank down into human form just long enough to make it out the door before becoming the Wolf again. "I have no love for you, but I wish you luck anyway." Then she raised her head, a howl of her own making the house tremble, and vanished into the darkness.
I guess you'll have to wait until next chapter to meet Garrett Gothel, then. Pity. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to think of names and parentages for the new group of villain kids. I have so many drawings of Beth already, though XD
Reviews, please! I love hearing from you guys! Thanks for reading, and I'll see y'all next time.