Bad Blood and Boogeymen

Here I am you lucky people, and so soon! Sorry, but I just realized I uploaded the wrong document and I can totally understand how totally uninteresting a bunch of rambling can be. So without further ado, here's the prologue you were supposed to get before I screwed up. Enjoy!

Prologue

When news of Maleficent's defeat finally came to the Isle there were,…mixed reactions.

Some, like EQ, Jafar and Cruella, took immediate action. Sweeping in quickly and quietly to pick up the loose ends (and more than a few valuables) that would tie them to the now failed plan.

It was back and forth for a little while: Were they sure the kids would rat them out?

Of course they were sure, you idiot! They had raised them hadn't they?

So after a sigh of pride and intense, careful discussion, they had considered going into hiding for a while. It would be easy, they said, just a few weeks until any would-be investigations had blown over. Unfortunately, by the time they were half way out the door, Cruella had been dismayed upon learning she would not be able to bring her entire three tons of wardrobe with her. So after much arguing and squeaking of the stuffed dog head, bang went that plan.

Ever since then they had spent their time trying to think of something else, something better, but aside from a bunch of fruitless evil laughter and some half black-hearted arguments nothing seemed to be working. Too bad Maleficent wasn't there, intimidating as she was, things went much more smoothly when she was around. Oh well.

For everyone else on the Island there was a mixture of relief and concern.

Maleficent had been evil, malicious, cruel and all manner of words not appropriate for children (curse her black heart), but she had also been the closest thing they had to a leader. Someone who's crooked ways had kept everything running at a bare minimum. So six weeks later when the Auradonian Limousine rolled into town again, this time escorted by several service trucks, people and fey who weren't immediately focused on robbing them were understandably concerned. A crowd gathered quickly, circling a reasonable distance from the visitors. Waiting and watching, and some ready to run at anytime.

The man who emerged from the first vehicle was tall and intimidating. What looks he sent from behind his dark glasses were enough to send any thieves scampering sheepishly away from their would-be prizes and everyone in the crowd that had gathered muttered concernedly.

"Are we in trouble?" Someone asked timidly.

Another gulped, "Do you think we should run?"

"King Adam wouldn't banish us again, he's not evil enough to do that." Someone snorted.

"I'll squeal on you in a second if it comes to it."

Isle of the Lost honesty, there's nothing like it.

Finally, as other Auradonians emerged from the trucks, carrying connector cords, screens, and other AV equipment, the man spoke. His voice matched his body, loud, scary, under other circumstances he would have fit right in with the rest of the rabble. He was too professional though, and purposeful. The workers moved around him as he pulled a scroll from inside his suit jacket as though it was worth all the gold in the world. Hush fell over the crowd, suspicion, worry, and the occasional flicker of animal menace in the hundreds of eyes.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," He began, his voice carrying over the wide circle. "Fey, Faeries and animals, by the order of King Benjamin your presence, is requested for an important message from the Kingdom of Auradon. All residents are requested to attend, and there is a grace period of fifteen minutes before the delivery will commence."

People shifted, a wave of muttering and questions filled the air. The man paused, and when it died down a little he finished gracefully.

"Thank you for your attention, and by the grace of our Kings past and present, we request you take heed of these instructions. Gather your families if possible, your friends and your neighbors. Let no one miss this opportunity."

He bowed at the waist and rolled up the scroll, standing ramrod straight as the workers continued their business. Screens were going up now, along with speakers and microphones and a few things no one there could name.

The crowd lingered for a minute, then somewhere someone shouted,

"What are you waiting for morons?"

(Rumplestiltskin would later say it had been the Big Bad Wolf, for only he had the lungs to be heard.)

"Stir your tails! Don't sit around with your tongues wagging, go!"

The clamor that followed was grand and short lived as everyone scattered to the streets, some even taking to the rooftops to avoid being lost in the torrent of dirty bodies. Soon the street was empty except for the service men and the tall man in the suit.

"Wow," One said mildly, "They know how to book it."

The tall man was unimpressed but nodded politely.

"There's a lot to be excited about." He said simply, "Not every day you're visited by your sworn enemies. Hurry and finish setting up before they get back."

He shuddered, "I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to. Something's giving me the creeps."

"Yes, Sir. Though I think everyone here is mostly harmless. Dirty, smelly, pathological liars, but harmless, mostly. Luckily, King Ben seems on top of things."

The man grunted and the worker went back to work.

From the alleyway just beyond them, an onlooker smiled slightly. Harmless, yeah. That's what he was.

He left as residents began to trickle back towards the now almost fully erected podium, careful to stay in the shadows were no one would noticed his patchwork stitched suit or his yellow eyes. Things were going perfectly according to plan and there was definitely no fun in that, at least not for anyone but himself. But that was fine, because as every gambler worth his die knows; the best games were rarely fair.

He began to hum as he strolled casually.

"You're joking, you're joking! I can't believe my eyes. The Boogeyman is back in town, and he's got a big surprise."

Oh yes, harmless. That's what he was.

That's it! It was short, I know. But don't worry, the first chapter will be longer. Submissions are open, and I need some characters to work with before I can start the first official chapter. Have fun, be creative, and make sure to stay rotten my little monsters.

Until next time.