"He'll have Mal no more. Go back and choose a different four!"
Ben looked out the window towards the Isle of the Lost. It looked so gloomy and the storm clouds permanently gathered above it didn't help things. Ben though about the people on the Isle, left alone to their own devices, abandoned by their kingdom, exiled for crimes that for the children had been committed by their parents. It didn't seem fair, something had to change and Ben planned on changing it. He had the perfect opportunity as well. He was being crowned king soon. Honestly Ben knew that being crowned was just a trial run, but only he and his parents knew that, the rest of the kingdom would think it was real. His parents were finally taking that honeymoon they'd given up all those years ago and they wanted to see if Ben could handle the kingdom in their absence.
Ben was roused from his thoughts by his parents entering his room. It didn't seem to bother the royal tailor though who had been fitting Ben the entire time he'd been thinking about the Isle and its troubles, it was why Ben had felt comfortable enough to just let his thoughts slip and slide around. Fittings gave his mind a chance to wander.
"I've decided on my first proclamation." Ben announced as the tailor left, he needed to hurry up and get this off his chest or he was going to burst. His parents signaled for him to continue that they were listening. "Every time I look out at the Isle it feels like we've abandoned them. I propose we bring the children over."
"The children of our sworn enemies?" King Beast questioned, anger and panic rising inside him.
"Just a few at first and then work our way up until all of the innocents are off the island." Ben explained.
Queen Belle was nodding along. "Everyone deserves a second chance. I gave you one." She pointed out to her husband before turning back to her son. "Who are their parents?"
"Captain Hook," this didn't get a reaction from his parents, neither positive or negative which Ben guessed was good, "Ursula," again no reaction, "Gaston and the Enchantress."
Ben's father exploded. "Gaston and the Enchantress? Gaston killed me!"
"And the Enchantress' magic brought you back."
"I wouldn't have needed bringing back if she hadn't cursed me at fifteen."
"If she hadn't cursed you, you wouldn't have met Mom and I wouldn't exist." Ben pointed out.
Belle put a comforting hand on her husband's arm. Ben's comment about not meeting had hit far too close to home. "Let's give them a chance." She spoke softly.
Meanwhile on the Isle of the Lost a shift in the air could be felt by everyone. Something was happening. Elle stumbled, nearly face planting into a brick wall. Something was wrong, so wrong. Elle forced herself to straighten and look around to see if anyone had noticed her moment of weakness. Luckily, she was in a back ally where everyone was too busy doing their own thing to notice the squirrely blonde.
Elle moved quickly, talking a crappy rickety unsafe fire escape up to the top of the nearest building. She moved from building to building, forcing herself not to run. Only the weak, the hunted, and thieves fleeing a mark ran on the Isle and no way in hell did she want to be one of the first two and someone thinking she was the last would bring too much unwanted attention. From her vantage point up above the streets Elle could see that if looked like everybody was heading for the side of the island she lived on. It didn't make any sense. A tight band of panic closed around Elle's chest making it hard to breath and it felt like her heart was going to explode. Elle felt extremely light headed, but she forced herself to keep moving. She had to get home. Once she was inside the Enchantress's castle she'd be safe. She'd be even safer when she got into her room, the most secure place on the whole island. It had taken Elle and her best friend Gil a year and a half to gather all the materials and make the trap filled maze that guarded the only entrance to Elle's room, but if was well worth it. If the Goblins ever truly turned against the inhabitants of the Isle Elle could protect people and herself. The same could be said for just about any disaster that struck.
Elle finally reached the corner of the island the Enchantress's castle was on. She shimmied down a drain pipe and darted across the street. She slipped inside the castle and slammed the door behind her. Her limbs felt like jelly and all she wanted to do was collapse and let her fear wash over her until she could safely shove it aside, but she needed to keep moving she needed answers.
"Elle?" The Enchantress called from the small portion of the castle that was actually lived in. The Beast had made sure the Enchantress's punishment resembled his curse, it was why her entire magical castle had been transported to the Isle, though stripped of its magic, leaving it large and nearly empty with only the Enchantress, her daughter, one of her sons, and Lefou, the father of one of her sons, living in it. That meant only the far back of the castle where the kitchen was and the rooms going off the kitchen were really used with the exception of the maze and Elle's room which took up the far back corner on the other side, connected to the kitchen by a secret tunnel that only opened from Elle's side.
Elle practically flew to her mother's side. She knew her mother was different from the other villains in the fact she knew her mother actually loved her, as did Lefou, but he was more of a sidekick and more capable of love to begin with. But if wasn't just her love that made the Enchantress different. She was different because she chose not to wallow in despair or get stuck in the past. She had traded in her billowing gowns for more practical clothing and something she could garden in. She had fought for custody of her other son who had been taken from her upon his birth by his father, but she'd lost because his father had the backing of Maleficent, who ruled the Isle simply because everyone foolishly thought she was the greatest villain. Ha! If only they knew the truth. The only thing the Enchantress allowed herself from her former homeland, from her sordid past, were her roses, but the ones she grew in her garden on the Isle of the Lost paled in comparison to the beauties she used to be able to grow.
"What's going on?" Elle asked as her mother wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Instead of answering the Enchantress hugged her tighter and turned on the TV. The TV only got one channel the Auradon news channel. "And in other news, Prince Ben's proclamation that four villain kids shall be allowed into Auradon to attend school here has created quite a stir." The reporter announced, the Enchantress was relieved, but not surprised that they were still running the story about Prince Ben's idea to bring kids from the Isle over. Elle tensed and then all her fear seemed to melt away from her. The Enchantress turned off the TV when Elle pulled away, more relaxed now.
"Who are the four kids?" She questioned.
The Enchantress bit her lip, unsure how Elle would take the news. It was why the Enchantress had chosen the TV to break it to Elle rather than the personalized invitation that had been delivered while Elle had bene out. "Uma, Harry," the Enchantress waited for a reaction from Elle, knowing she was friends with Uma and Harry, but Elle's face remained carefully blank, "Gil," Elle sucked in a sharp breath, Gil and Elle were extremely close, to the point they claimed to be rother and sister, "and you," the Enchantress finished. Elle let out her breath slowly and took her mother's hands in her own.
"Will you be alright? Just you, Lefou, and Leo?" She questioned. The Enchantress laughed. That was her daughter, always worrying about others, she truly didn't belong on the Isle, even if the Beast was getting back at the Enchantress.
"I'll be fine my beloved."
Elle's brow creased as she thought of something. "Maleficent is going to storm the castle now. I mean… She's going to be pissed Mal wasn't chosen." She spoke, worry evident in her hazel eyes.
"Don't you worry. I can handle Maleficent." The Enchantress assured. Elle wasn't so convinced Maleficent hated the Enchantress for many reasons, most obvious being that not only was the Enchantress more powerful, but also because she refused to bend to Maleficent's will. Maleficent would stop at nothing to destroy the Enchantress and Elle being picked over Mal to go to Auradon might just be the straw that broke the camel's back. Elle's panic returned.
"Maybe I can give my slot to Mal." Elle offered. It would hurt her to be away from her friends, but it would destroy her if anything happened to her mother. Still, would it be the best idea to send Mal along with Uma, the pair hated each other.
"You will do no such thing." The Enchantress scolded as Elle weighed the pros and cons of giving her slot up to Mal. "I will be fine. This is your chance to get out and you will take it." Elle nodded.