LeFou's closed early that night. When patrons complained, Gaston promised all of them a round of free drinks if they would just leave, just for tonight. Slightly satisfied, they left, leaving Gaston alone in the empty tavern. As soon as each villain had received the proclamation, Dr. Facilier had sent out a formal request for everyone to meet in secret tonight and Gaston suggested that they use the tavern. He was expecting them at any moment now, and quickly prepared a table and drinks for all of them.
The first to arrive was Shan Yu. He merely grunted at Gaston's greeting before taking his seat and staring curiously at his ale. He took a sip, before pushing it away in disgust. Gaston pretended not to notice. Next came Robert Callaghan, looking slightly tired and annoyed at needing to show up. He slumped down into an open seat and began to chug his drink. Gaston's eyes widened in approval. He had regonized the man as a customer, but he had never seen this before. He would have to take this man up on a drinking challenge one day. They all sat there in a rather awkward silence, until Dr. Facilier kicked open the door, a laptop in his hand.
"Gentlemen, why all the glum? We should be celebrating!" He twirled his chair around, before plopping down, resting his elbows on the back of his seat.
"Celebrating?" Callaghan grunted. "Celebrating what exactly?"
"Why our chance at revenge!" Dr. Facilier placed the laptop down, and opened it, turning on the Skype cam. "Hades! You still there?"
The screen slowly flickered to live, Hades could be seen, peering closely into the camera. "Doc? You there? Is this thing on?" The screen flickered to black again.
After a couple of minutes of tinkering, and a disgruntled sigh from Shan Yu, the Skype call finally began to work.
"Finally," Hades threw his hands up in the air. "Power of the gods and I can't even get this stupid thing to work properly.
"I'm surprised you even have internet down there." Gaston said, filling up a new mug for Callaghan.
"Seph insisted that we get it so she could keep in contact with her mother." Hades waved it off. :But never mind that. Where's Miss Queeny?"
"Probably being fashionably late as usual," Dr. Facilier said, taking a sip from his mug.
No sooner than he had that that, the door was kicked open. The Queen of Hearts bustled forward, signaling for her two card guards to wait outside the door. It would seem that Dr. Facilier's warning about subtlety had gone over her head. Gaston look a good look at her. The island hadn't truly treated her well (then again it hadn't treated any of them well). Her once regal gown was tattered and stitched back together in many places and her crown sat on top her grey streaked hair. Age was not treating many of them well, Dr. Facilier the worst. The barrier around the island had cut off his connection to his spirit friends and therefore his secret to his youthful look. He sported the most bags and his hair was now completely grey. Gaston and the rest had managed to get away with greying hair. Well except for Callaghan, whom Gaston had just always assumed was old.
"Ah Your Majesty," Dr. Facilier greeted, pulling out a chair for here. "So glad you could finally join us."
She merely glared at him, before plopping down in her. "Well I'm here now. What could you possibly want?"
Dr. Facilier stood before the group, hands clasped in front of him. "As you all know, we have been gifted with an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our children now have the chance to avenge us against those oh so high and mighty heroes. They can free us and we can have everything we ever wanted. Our youth, our power, our rights as the villains to strike fear into the hearts of those who are now currently laughing at us." He slammed his fist down on the table. "They forced us here, while they all get to sit in their cushy towers and gloat at us." Everyone nodded in agreement. "Our time has finally come."
"Yes but how?" Shan Yu finally spoke. "The last group already tried that, and looked how that turned out." A moment was taken as everyone remembered the children's betrayal.
"Our children are better," The Queen of Hears stated, crossing her arms. "My son and I may have our differences, but he would never turn against me.
"Just like your husband wouldn't?" Callaghan smirked, raising his glass to his lips.
The Queen's face began to turn bright red and Gaston swore he saw steam coming out of her ear. "How dare you!"
She made to stand up, but Dr. Facilier stopped her, placing his arm in front of her. "Everyone, please, relax. We're all friends here."
Callaghan laughed. "Friends? Really?" He stood up. "Look I don't really care what you do here, but I want no part of it." He began to leave.
"And miss your chance at revenge?" Dr. Facilier asked.
"I don't need any revenge. I set out to avenge my daughter. Instead I made her ashamed of me. I am not like you." And with that, Callaghan left.
There was a moment of stunned silence before Hades broke it. "He sounds just like one of those heroes. Oh well, who needs him."
"But we might need his son." Dr. Facilier sat down, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I can get my daughter to persuade him.
Gaston let out a hearty laugh. "Then we're set. Our children will help us. Now we just need a plan."
"And I have one," Dr. Facilier said, leaning forward on his chair. "Maleficent is still in Auradon. We all saw what happened to her, but she is our key to winning. Now I have been training my daughter in the way of Voodoo, and once she leaves the island, her full power will be unlocked. She will be able to restore Maleficent to her full power."
"And Malefiecent's simply going to help us?" Shan Yu asked.
"She'll want revenge! Why wouldn't she help us? And if for some reason she decides not to," he pulled a vial filled with a swirling yellow liquid, "we have this. Whoever drinks this will be placed under control of the nearest Voodoo master."
"Your daughter?" Gaston asked?
"I have prepared her in every way." Dr. Facilier tucked the vial away. "Just think of it, soon power will be ours!"
"That's great and all, but what about me?" Gaston's attention snapped back to the laptop. He was so engrossed in Facilier's plan that he had forgotten about the god.
"Well, what about you?" he asked.
"I'll still be stuck down here. Someone has to release me." Hades squinted at Gaston. "Or were you planning on leaving me down here?"
"Of course not my friend!" Faciler quickly intervened. "We'll simply get our children to free you."
"Not as simple as that. Someone with the blood of an Olympian god must sit on Zeus's throne and order for me to be released."
Dr. Facilier thought for a moment. "A few gods should be no problem for a dragon. We'll get you free, don't worry."
Hades, seemingly content, nodded his head. "So we have a plan?"
"I believe we do." Dr. Facilier grinned. He raised his mug high in the air. "To freedom!"
"To freedom!" They all joined in and clinked their mugs (sans Hades of course) and began to laugh. Auradon wouldn't stand a chance.
Axel sat on the curb outside of the abandoned factory, waiting for his father. He was supposed to meet the rest of the kids and their parents at the broken bridge at the end of the island for the limo to pick them up. But as usually, Robert Callaghan was taking his time. Yes the years had been hard on the old man, slowing his gait and forcing him to walk with a cane, but Axel knew that wasn't what was keeping him up. Ever since Callaghan was sent to the island, he had fallen into a drunken depression. He had worked so hard to avenge the death of his daughter, only to find that she had been alive the whole time. He only managed to get a quick glimpse of her waking up in the ambulance, before he was carted off to the island. He spent his first two years there drinking away the pain until a night with a stranger left him with baby Axel. At first Callaghan found this as a chance at redeeming himself. He would raise his new son with all the love he had given Abigail. But as the years went on and he got older, Callaghan's depression began to take hold of him. He just simply lost hope in his redemption. Axel could never replace Abigail, and he made sure to let Axel know this every chance he could get.
Axel had spent most of his childhood by himself. The abandoned manufacturing factory they had taken residence in was quiet and peaceful. He found all sorts of interesting things while exploring the empty halls. Abandoned projects and plenty of spare parts. By the time he was 11, he had taught himself how to fix the building's generator and wiring. When he was 13 he had dozens of small contraptions to help him with things like cleaning and repairing. But instead of being proud, Callaghan had simply belittled Axel, saying how his sister could build them faster and more efficiently. Axel's dislike for this siter he had never even met before grew and grew. So he strived to get better, but decided the keep his new contraptions to himself, deciding he would finally prove his father wrong one day.
And now here he was, 14 years old and preparing to enter his freshman year. Originally he had been dreading going to Dragon Hall. He had managed to avoid going to school all together, learning instead from books and manuals he managed to scavenge or simply just from experience. But his father had decided enough was enough and demanded that Axel enroll himself. It was a scary thought. Axel didn't really enjoy the company of other people, believing that they just got in the way or acted just like his father. But now he was to attend Auradon Prep. He didn't know which was worse.
Finally Robert Callaghan appeared. Leaning heavily on his cane, he simply grunted at Axel and continued walking. Slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, Axel got up and followed him, and they began their long trek in silence.
They were the last to arrive at the bridge. He recognized Helen LaRue from the times he had to retrieve his father from the tavern. She was talking with a younger boy, whom Axel recognized as Ace of Hearts from his red tipped hair and ace symbol on his belt buckle. Gaston was meanwhile trying to impress the Queen of Hearts by flexing, but she was having none of it and threaten to behead him before he finally left he alone, choosing instead to talk with Dr. Facilier instead. Dr. Facilier's daughter Fae was staring at Shan Yu and his son Sheen Yu with obviously curiosity.
The only one Axel didn't know was a girl with blue hair twisted into low buns and a strange little man who was floating on top of a winged staff that looked much too large for him. Against his better judgment, Axel's curiosity got the better of him, and he made his way over to the older girl.
"Hi," he said, sticking out his hand. "I'm Axel, I haven't seen you around before."
The girl hesitated, staring down at Axel, who was a good foot shorter than her. "Azure," she finally said, shaking his hand. "Hade's daughter."
"Ah, that would explain it. Isn't is locked up in the Underworld or something?" He adjusted the bag on his shoulder. Hades was known throughout the island as the fallen god, banished and alone. He was s upraised to find that he actually had a child of his own.
"Yep, any bloodline of Hades' is cursed to remain in the Underworld for the rest of their days as punishment." She smirked. "Well that is until our dear King decided otherwise."
Axel chuckled looking up at the small man, who was now dozing on his staff. "It's funny," he said, "I always imagined Hades would be, I don't know, taller maybe?"
There was a pause before Azure doubled over in laughter. "Wait, you think this is my father?"
"Well, I mean…I just thought…"
"No, no," Azure managed to compose herself before turning to the man in question. "This isn't my father." She kicked the staff out from underneath him. "This is just my Uncle Hermes, one of the good gods, if you will."
Hermes, who had managed to catch himself before face planting on the ground, merely grunted at Azure before readjusting himself atop his perch.
"Oh my bad." A blush rose o Axel's checks. He knew this was a bad idea.
"Hey no sweat kid." Azure patted his shoulder, pointing out towards the bridge. "Look here come our ride."
The limo, using what Axel guessed was Auradon magic, was driving through golden hoops in the air before effortlessly making its way through the barrier. A man dressed in a black suit stepped out, opening the trunk to the limo. "Time to go," he said, adjusting his shades.
Axel gave a quick nod to Azure, before making his way back towards his father. Everyone else was saying their respective good byes. Helen had managed to grab her father in a big hug. Fae seemed to be receiving some last minute instructions from Dr. Facilier. At one point Fae sent a quick glance over at Axel, but her shrugged it off. Shan and Sheen Yu merely shook hands before Sheen picked up his bag and headed over to the trunk. Ace and his mother were exchanging brief words before she merely turned on her heel and left, armed guards accompanying her. Even Azure had her goodbyes, sharing a quick joke with Hermes.
Axel stood in front of his father. "Well, this is it." His father merely stared back. Axel could have sworn he saw a glimmer of something in his father's eyes (maybe regret), before Callaghan grunted his good bye and looked away. Axel sighed. "Bye father." He left, dropping off his bag in the trunk before taking a seat in the limo next to Sheen.
This was it. Auradon, here they come.
Hey everyone! sorry it took so long. Things like writer's block and work got in the way. I also got to go to Disneyland recently, where I met Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, and Cruella deVil (who is fantastic to take pictures with by the way).
But to make up for the delay, this chapter is a little longer. I'm having so much fun creating these backstories, but I promising soon it'll just be action, revenge, and navigating the high school.
Couple things: I own nothing except my own OC, and sorry again for any spelling or grammar errors.
Enjoy!
