Chapter 3: The Judge's Son Meets The Gypsy Princess
When Ben went to check on the new students from the Isle after their first two morning classes, he couldn't help but notice that they looked as if they'd gone through torture. He knew, of course, that it would take a while for the villainous kids to adapt to the goodness-filled environment of Auradon, but while Mal and the others were able to disguise their initial intentions and disgust, the six new transfers definitely had no problem showing how they were struggling. When he and Mal went to check on them after they had Redemptial Goodness with Fairy Godmother, Haya Yu looked like she wanted to throw up, Kory Lokisia and Xaos Sethson had the same look of horror in their eyes that Ben's mother, Belle, had when he and his parents watched a horror movie that his father had selected for Family Movie Night. Charles looked like he'd seen that provoked Christianity, due to the way he swore using religious terms.
"What the hellfire was that? Even my father wouldn't have taught me this blasphemy!"
Gabriel Legume (Ben tried his best to look at him despite him being the son of his parents' arch-nemesis) grumbled at the stupidity of the lessons: "You meet a beautiful young lady that you like. What do you do? Blackmail her to marry you or you throw her father in an asylum? Burn her at the stake if she refuses you? Or do you try to introduce yourself in a friendly way and gradually start a mutual relationship?' What the hell was that? No one treats a French villain like this! Fascists!"
Only Macy Beth seemed to not mind the Redemptial Goodness class. Ben was glad t see that at least one of them was showing enthusiasm so far at Auradon and tried to sooth her friends by saying it wasn't so bad and maybe the next classes would be better.
It was now 10 am and it was the 30-minute break time. Students went out to their lockers and the gardens to relax until it was time for class. Ben went to join Mal near the lockers, where Finius Macduff, the son of Macduff the Thane of Fife, accompanied them. Finius was a pretty cool guy that Ben knew since middle school but while Ben went to Auradon Prep, Finius went to Cumberland Academy, an expensive, Scottish high-class school located in the Cumberland Province of Auradon. The current king of Auradon was full of joy when he learned that his old friend had convinced his father Macduff that he would prefer to attend a public boarding school that wasn't just full of descendants of Scottish royalty and nobility.
Finius joined Ben at the lockers as the latter introduced the young thane to his girlfriend Mal, the daughter of Maleficent. Ben was very happy when he saw his old friend treating Mal with great respect despite the fact that she was from the Isle of the Lost and nearly stole a magic wand during Ben's coronation for her mother. As Finius asked curious questions about the lifestyle back on the Isle, Ben then noticed the six new kids. Haya Yu and Gabriel Legume were having a punching game where it seemed that Haya Yu kept winning. Ben felt bad that the daughter of Shan Yu couldn't attend the P.E class in second class due to most of the sports being for boys. When he'll get the occasion after school, Ben was planning to talk to Fairy Godmother in order to convince her to begin coed sports at Auradon so that everyone, including Haya, could participate in.
He then saw Kory Lokisia holding hands with her boyfriend Xaos Sethson as they chatted with Lonnie. During his first period of Grammar and Vocabulary, Lonnie had told him about how cool Kory was when they were settling in their dorm room and Ben was impressed that Lonnie had managed to befriend one of the villainous kids in less than an hour. He was also interested when Lonnie asked if perhaps Kory and her musical friends could perhaps have their own little studio in Auradon Prep where they could keep practicing their music. Ben promised that he'd make sure of it and added the request to his list.
Macy Beth was chatting with Evie in a very enthusiastic conversation. These two princesses born from evil rulers were both sweet girls who enjoyed their stay at Auradon so far, were efficient in their classes, and dated smart, supporting boys (Evie had Doug and from what Mal told Ben, Macy had a boyfriend back on the Isle named Manny Colchis who, unlike most of the other boys back on the Isle, liked the Scottish for who she was rather than her looks).
Ben got lost in his thoughts until Charles Frollo accidently bumped into him. The minister's son fell on his butt, along with a few library books.
"I'm sorry, Charles!" Ben exclaimed. "I didn't see you there!"
"Are you OK?" Finius helped Charles get up. Charles looked annoyed as he struggled to get up and put his baseball cap in place. Mal picked up Charles' library books and noticed that all of them were encyclopedias and charts discussing Auradon Prep's foundation from when it was still the Beast's castle.
"What are those books for, Charles?" she asked in a puzzled tone.
"I just want to find an isolated place to re-establish my UNHOLY GAZETTE studio," Charles said coldly as he snatched back the books nervously. "You know…to print my gossip."
"I'm sure Ben can find you a studio for your UNHOLY GAZETTE," Finius said to Charles, giving an encouraging look at Ben. "Isn't that right, Ben?"
"Well…" Ben hesitated, "I could talk about it to Fairy Godmother and see if she agrees. I do support the idea of starting a news media at school…"
"What sort of media do you use for your gossip?" Finius asked Charles curiously.
"Uh…back on the Isle, I used both television, radio, and newspaper in my studio," Charles explained. "My dad is mainly in charge of running propaganda and whatsoever in order to keep everyone on with the news and… his beliefs."
"Your studio was our main access to news in and out of the island," Mal added. "And your dad's camera is also very effective." She pointed at the camera around his neck. "It's a special type of camera that actually prints out a full newspaper. Why don't you show them, Charles?"
Charles nervously pulled the camera out from his neck and showed them the small screen behind the camera, which was accompanied by a small set of lettered and numbered buttons. Ben and Finius looked at it with curiosity, Finius especially.
"I take a picture with the camera, then I do a few tapings, like for the headlines, subtitles, text, and other poppycocks. For example." The small boy held up his camera and took a picture of Ben, Mal, and Finius, much to their surprise. Charles did a few quick taps on his camera and then, with a last click, a fully printed newspaper came out. Charles took it and handed it to Finius first, who thoroughly read it, from the headlines 'UNHOLY GAZETTE: WILL KING BEN ACCORD A NEW STUDIO TO CHARLES FROLLO?' to the end of the paper.
"The text is very thorough in detail and full of emotion," Finius told Charles. "I especially like the realistic picture." He showed the picture of the trio to the others. Indeed, it looked realistic. "I definitely support the idea, Charles. You should get a studio here in Auradon Prep."
Before Charles could respond after his shy smile, a loud banging chorus was heard from the gardens.
Everyone looked to see a bunch of students banging on upside down trash cans and playing with tambourines. Unlike most of the reserved, uniform like outfits of most of the students at Auradon, minus the newcomers, these kids wore tie-dyed tank tops, tattered jeans, colorful headbands, and sandals. Their lively music actually attracted many of their viewers.
"Haya! Check it! Musicians!" Macy cried excitedly as the villainous musicians rushed to the rail and watched with eager as the students played.
"Hey! I know them!" Lonnie said. "They're the Gypsy Nomads, a bunch of gypsy students who switch schools every year. I saw them play music in my hometown once."
"Ugh. Gypsies," Charles snorted in disgust. Ben briefly forgot that Judge Frollo had an insane, racist view towards gypsies during his reign of terror in Paris. Good thing he heard Charles' comment to remember that.
"You know, Charles…" he began saying. A loud squeal from Lonnie then cut him off.
"LOOK! IT'S GITANE TROUILLEFOU!"
Charles and Ben turned to see one of the gypsy students stand out among her peers: a girl who was around fifteen-years-old, dressed in a white tank top, tie-dyed jeans, flip-flops, and an assortment of golden bracelets, loop earrings, multicolored rings, and a purple headband. A tattoo of a jester was on her right arm. Her only makeup was purple eyeshadow and magenta lipstick that matched her sunburn skin. The girl began to start a rapping song, followed by a gypsy choir that caused loud cheers around her.
It's a crazy world I'm livin (Choir: Livin)
How should I know where I'm turnin? (Choir: Turnin)
It's a world full of topsy-turvy
And things are getting curvy.
Who knows who we are, well, let me tell ya.
We are the Gypsy Nomads; we rock music. (Choir: Oh, yeah!)
My name's Gitane and soon you'll know y'all.
My dad's Clopin the Gypsy King and he's fantastic.
We've all got a sayin for what we wanna be.
Let's be who we choose to be. (Choir: Choose to be)
Students cheered as Gitane sang. Ben couldn't believe it: the infamous Clopin Trouillefou, the Gypsy King of the Court of Miracles, had a daughter attending Auradon Prep. This was bound to be a cool year. When he turned to look at the others, he saw that Charles was struggling to not blush. Ben guessed that Charles found Gitane attractive, the same way his father crushed on Esmeralda as soon as he met her.
Then, out of nowhere, Haya jumped out of the locker platform and grabbed her guitar, playing a rock tune that matched the rhythm and tune of the Gypsy Nomads. People were amazed by the amazing tune that Haya was making; even Gitane seemed to like it. Xaos, Macy, and Kory joined in. Things got awesome as Xaos introduced his wicked beat to the new rhythm.
Gitane: We're unique in our way. Like I told you, we've got a say.
Macy and Kory: Turn that wicked beat. We've got a say and we bring on the heat.
Gitane: It's a big family between you and me.
We're all a part of it as we wanna be.
DNA doesn't justify things.
It's time we cut those strings.
Dark Rulers: No strings can hold us back.
Our lives are all in the same shack.
We might be rotten, but here's a fact:
The past should be forgotten 'cause were one pack.
Gitane & Dark Rulers:
We're unique in our own way. Like we told you, we've got a say.
Everyone applauded and cheered as the Gypsy Nomads and the Dark Rulers bowed to each other in respect. Ben, Mal, Finius, Charles, and Gabriel went to join the others as compliments were shared.
"You guys were awesome!" Gitane said.
"Thanks! So were you," Macy returned. She held out her hand. "I'm Macy Beth. My parents are the Macbeths and my friends and are I come from the Isle of the Lost."
"Your dad's Macbeth! Like the Macbeth? The same guy who killed his cousin and became king? Awesome!" Gitane shook hands with Macy. "My dad and I used to get Scottish gypsies at the Court of Miracles every Christmas and they'd sing songs about your dad. I love Scottish bagpipes."
"You don't mind the fact that her dad was a bloody murderer?" Haya asked curiously.
"Why not? To me, villains are like gypsies: mistreated and isolated from society due to prejudice. So I like to think that we have things in common."
"That's pretty cool of you, Gitane," Ben said with a smile.
Gitane curtsied. "My pleasure, your Majesty." She gave a few looks at the new villainous kids. "Let's see. Dreadlock baldy with the big muscles must be Gaston's boy." Xaos snickered as Gabriel went over his mostly baldhead. "Snicky in the Egyptian attire must be the demigod son of Seth."
"Snicky?" Xaos choked in disbelief.
"How cute. I think I'll call you by that," Kory teased her boyfriend as she played with his cheek, who couldn't help but feel both uncomfortable and amused.
"The Nordic themed girl must be Loki's daughter. I already know Macy. And the gothic girl with fur and guitar must be Shan Yu's kid. It's nice to meet you all."
"Same here," Xaos said.
Gitane leaned down closer in order to look at Charles face-to-face. Being a few inches apart made Charles very uncomfortable and blush too much. Ben could tell that Charles was reliving the same experience that his father had when he met Esmeralda at the Festival of Fools.
"I can tell your French, but I'm not sure who you are," Gitane said with a questioning tone.
"My name's just Charles," the boy said nervously.
"Oh! I get it!" Gitane teasingly tapped Charles' nose with an index finger. "You're the son of Frollo! Since you said you were just."
"What? That's not what I meant…I meant that people only call me Charles."
"Sure, Charlesy." She tapped his nose again. "Well, I hope to see you guys around." She left, waving at the other kids and giving a flirty one to Charles, who looked like he was trying to slap himself back to reality.
