Hey all! So, this was getting really long...so, double update! Yay!

I do not Disney Descendants, because if I did...well, you'll probably see what would happen in the next chapter. I only own Gabby and Luc, my OCs, and I don't think I'll be creating any new ones, but you never know.

Gabriella smiled as Lucian walked her to her dorm, their hands intertwined. She felt light as they strolled through the halls of the dormitory. Lucian kept giving her this smile that was filled with such warmth and happiness, it made her stomach flip every time she looked at him. What in the world did she do to deserve such an amazing guy?

"What's got you so smiley, Ella?" Luc questioned, his lips quirked in an amused smile.

Gabriella bit her lip, trying to stop smiling, but actually finding it difficult. "Just about...well, how lucky I am, I guess..."

"Really, now..."

"I mean, this place...I don't know. It just...it just feels as if, for once, I'm...not alone. I'm...happy."

Lucian dropped a soft kiss on her forehead once they reached her dorm. "You are not lucky. You simply received what has been owed to you for so long..."

Gabriella felt her face warm as a blush stained her cheeks. "Thank you, I guess..."

"Ella, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself..." Lucian sighed, but still smiled. "Now, I'll see you tomorrow."

Gabriella smiled as Lucian gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before walking off. Once he was out of sight, she felt herself deflate a bit, her eyes growing sad as she entered her dorm to find Evie staring at a booklet.

"What are you looking at?" Gabriella asked, flopping onto her bed.

"My chemistry test..."

"Oh, how'd you do?" Gabriella had heard about Chad's little snitch act, and to say she was vengeful would be an understatement.

"I got a B+."

Gabby smiled. "Good for you, E." Then her thoughts drifted to Lucian and her smile fell as a sigh escaped her lips.

"What's wrong?" Leave to Evie to know when she was upset. "Did something happen with Lucian?"

"He said he loved me." Gabby still couldn't believe it. She felt as if she were floating, but the lead in her stomach threaten to make her sink into the earth by its sheer weight.

Evie sat up, looking over to Gabriella in concern. "Do you love him?"

"I can't!" Gabby exploded standing from the bed so fast Evie was surprised she didn't have whiplash. "He-he goes against everything we have planned! I-I'm not suppose to get attached to anyone or anything here! Attachments lead to-to heartache and weakness!" Gabby turned away, her fists clenched tightly. "I'm not weak! I c-can't love him!" Her voice then dropped to a whisper. "I can't..."

"Can't what?" Gabby whirled to find Mal entering their dorm, Ben outside the door. Seems he was dropping her off...

Gabby floundered for an excuse. "Um...I can't...er-believe that it's already been nearly a month since we came to Auradon!" She wanted to face-palm so badly right then and there. "Um, how was your date?" Her eyes examined Mal's damp dress. "On second thought, I don't need to know..."

"Just went for a swim in the Enchanted Lake..." Ben laughed, giving Mal one last smile before he headed off.

Enchanted Lake...I've read about this...

Before Gabby could think about it anymore, Evie was speaking to her once again. "I didn't ask you if you could, I asked you if you did...?"

Gabby sighed, her voice soft as she turned away so they wouldn't see the conflicting emotions in her eyes. "I don't know...maybe? I've never felt it before, so how should I know?"

"Sometimes, Gab, you just know," Evie said in attempt to comfort her distressed friend. "Maybe you need to give it a chance..."

Gabriella sighed as she strode for the door.

"Where are you going?" Mal questioned, removing her jewelry.

"Out." Before she opened the door, however, she faced Evie once more. "If I did love him, we'd both end up hurt in the end...besides, I'm pretty sure at this point I'm incapable of love."

As she slipped through the door, the little part of her that had been louder than usual lately whispered, Liar.

She ignored it as she closed, turning only to abruptly stop. Before her stood Ben, leaning against the wall opposite their dorm, a single brow raised. She felt her insides go cold as her stomach coiled in knots. He knew. He heard them, he must of...oh, no.

"Hey, Ben," Gabby gulped, crossing her arms over her chest. "What are you still doing out here?"

Ben shrugged, crossing his own arms. "Just hanging out." They were silent for a beat, Gabby's heart hammering in her chest. "Do you mind taking a walk with me?"

Gabby flinched slightly, but nodded, interested in what he must have to say. They started walking down the halls, turning left and right throughout the halls until they came to a small, enclosed garden. Even though it was beginning to become dark, the garden still had its beauty. The calming scent of the flowers eased her tense muscles. She took a seat on the stone bench off to the side with Ben, crossing her arms across her chest to close herself off from the soon-to-be king.

"You an your friends are an interesting bunch." Her eyes narrowed in on Ben's calm face. "You all stick together, no matter what it seems. You take on the world as a team, rather than separate individuals. From what I've heard, however, teamwork isn't necessarily taught on the Isle of the Lost." Gabby remained silent, never removing her narrowed gaze from him. "That leads to the question of where and when you learned, or decided, to act as a team? To act with that level of friendship instead of animosity?"

He was fishing; looking for the answer to a completely different question.

"I believe that is not your true question, your Highness. What is it you truly mean to ask me, rather than the others?" Ben raised an eyebrow, causing her to snort. "I am not an idiot, Benji," she taunted, enjoying his grimace at the nickname. "What do you think I've been doing since I came here? You have so much knowledge at your fingertips, and yet most of you spoiled princes and princesses throw it away like the scraps of food we're given." Her eyes turned to pure ice, a drastic change from the warmth they had exuded when in Luc's presence. "We both know the love spell washed off of you as soon as you jumped into that lake. And, it seems, you've figured out the dynamic of our little group." Within a second, her fist was curled in his shirtfront and he was dragged so that they were face to face. "You know I'm the planner, the one who thinks out every step of our movements before we so much as twitch. So, tell me, what could be possibly on your mind? Perhaps if we plan to suddenly transform into our parents?"

"You are not your parents," Ben stated calmly, untangling her hand from the cloth of his shirt. "You are all innocent of the crimes they committed."

Gabby snorted, crossing her arms once again with a cold smirk. "You've never been even ten feet near the Isle, have you?" Ben's silence was answer enough. "It is a filthy, dark, disgusting place filled with poverty, no matter what food scraps your father sends us. We are forced to steal, loot, maraud, whatever you want to call it, to survive. If I wanted, I could rob you blind of everything on you and then some. Together? We can do nearly anything. However..." She now turned her gaze to the moon, marveling slightly at just how brightly it could shine. "The only way to survive is to be like our parents, and thus, a contest of sorts starts..." She was slowly fading into her memories, forgetting just who she was speaking to as she fell deeper and deeper...

"Happiness and Love don't exist on the Isle. Our parents don't care what we do, as long as we either serve them without second thought, or become like them in every single way. Some, however, don't care what we do. We're never good enough; we don't deserve their attention. We are simply the mistakes that plague their lives." Gabby's face became blank once more. "None of us understand love or why we feel happy here. Besides, it's obvious we're not wanted here, so, in a way, Auradon is just like home."

Ben settled a hand on her shoulder, only to be shrugged off.

"We'll be sent off eventually. Anymore questions? Perhaps you're wondering if I put a spell on your friend?"

"I know you didn't."

"Really, you have that much faith in the daughter of your parents' nemesis? The one they brought back to life simply to stick on an island with no hope of escape?"

"No, I have faith in one of the new kids, one that has managed to make my best friend, my brother, happier than he has ever been."

Gabby's cheeks flushed hotly as she refused to look at him. "I doubt I make him that happy..."

"Just because you do not know what love feels like, does not mean you do not feel it or are incapable of doing so." Ben stood, preparing to leave the garden. "My father once believed he would never love, nor be loved. And yet, he met a young village girl that held so much love for her father, and then, eventually him. So, maybe try to be more optimistic?"

Before Ben took more than two steps, Gabby spoke up.

"If you break her heart, prince or not, I will make your life miserable."

"I assure you, my intentions are pure. The spell only hurried along my mind to catch up with my heart."

With those words said, Ben left the garden as Gabby sat in silence, dazed by the ideas circulating in her mind.

Are we doing the right thing? Could we...be happier here than back home?

She shook her head, clenching her fists in anger.

They'll never let us stay. We're are simply scum to them; trash that has infiltrated their prestigious kingdom.

Not all of them feel that way.

Her heart clenched in pain at the picture of Lucian's smiling face in her mind. How could she go through with this when it would hurt him? If they went through with it, Maleficent would...

Gabby jumped to her feet, stalking away from the garden and back to her room. She couldn't think like that. If she did, she would back out, and her friends needed her; they needed her because they needed to finish this task. They had to get the wand, that was the mission. She was always on mission, never letting her emotions rule her, and this was still true...

Even if it felt like a dagger in her heart.


When Gabby saw the TV set in the library, she felt unease fill her. She knew this wasn't going to end well. Whatever it was for, could not be good. However, she ignored it and went through class, actually doing the assignment for once. That is, until their teacher decided to interrupt.

"Children, excuse me! Um," Fairy Godmother exclaimed, a smile lighting up her cheerful face. "As you know, uh, this Sunday is Family Day here at Auradon Prep, and because your parents can't be here do to...uh, distance..." Gabby rolled her eyes, wishing the woman would just spit it out already. "We've arranged for a special treat!" Gabby did not like the sound of that. Her unease spiked once Fairy Godmother turned on the TV, the screen filled with a face they hadn't seen in weeks.

Maleficent...

"I don't see anything, nor do I hear..." Maleficent mumbled, staring through the screen.

"Kids!" Fairy Godmother ushered them forward, however, they were all reluctant to come any closer.

They were all there; Maleficent, Evil Queen, Jafar, Cruella, and...

A knot settled in Gabby's throat at the cold, smirking face of her father, Gaston.

"Can I please see a remote?!" On the screen, she could see her father roll his eyes at Maleficent's impatience. "It's broken! I hate electronical-"

Maleficent paused as the Evil Queen greeted Evie, making it obvious that they were now visible to their parents. Gabby forced steel into her spine as she locked gazes with her father, refusing to back down.

"Oh, who's the old bat?" Leave it to Cruella to be the first to insult someone.

"This is Fairy Godmother," Mal explained slowly, probably knowing that their parents were about to offend the kind woman even more.

"Still doing tricks with eggplants?" Maleficent and the other villains chuckled.

Fairy Godmother bristled. "I turned a pumpkin into a beautiful carriage!"

"You really couldn't give Cinderella 'til 1 A.M? I mean, really? The hamsters have to be back on their little wheels?" Seriously? This was the special treat?

More like punishment.

"They were mice!" Fairy Godmother snapped, flustered, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink with her agitation. "They were not-They were mice!" Mal quickly attempted to calm her down, subtly pushing out of frame. The woman turned to the screen one last time. "They were mice!"

"Hi, mom," Mal greeted with a forced smile, Jay, Evie, and Carlos flanking her from behind while Gabby stood by her side, arms crossed and face blank. She was already preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation that was bound to occur.

"Mal!" Maleficent called loudly. "I m-m-miss...you!"

It must have physically pained her to say that.

"You children are never far from our thoughts!" Jafar added quickly.

"I've got it," Maleficent muttered. "How long must mommy wait to see you?"

"Um, there's this big coronation coming up... I think sometime after that..."

"When?"

"Friday!" Mal exclaimed, still smiling at the screen. "10 A.M."

"You're sure I can't see you before that? I don't know what I'll do if I don't get my hands on that magic wan-" Maleficent quickly corrected herself. "You...you little...nugget, that I love so much!"

"Yes, I completely understand, mother."

"Gabby."

Gabby clenched her teeth. "Father."

"Have you entered any competitions, yet? Won anything?" Gaston asked, yet his eyes conveyed a clearer message. Have you messed up, yet?

"No, father, I haven't." She glared at him. "I don't plan to, either."

Her father scowled at her. "Don't take that tone with me-"

"I will take any tone I wish to with you!" she yelled, stalking until she was closer to the screen. "You are the one trapped on an island. I am the one free, able to pursue anything I wish to in any way I see fit. You want to control someone? Go find those brainless idiots that trip over themselves trying to be like you. I will do things my way because I am not like you!"

"Gabriella!" her father roared, pushing the other villains out of the way so that he could glare straight into her eyes, trying to make her back down. "You are my daughter-"

"Oh, so when I don't follow your lead, I'm your daughter? When you need something, I'm your daughter? Well, you know what? No, I'm not your daughter. You aren't my father. You are simply a hot-tempered, bigoted, hypocritical old man that couldn't even be a parent if you actually read a book on it!"

"Why, you ungrateful little brat-"

"Ungrateful? Who left who with a group of villains to be raised instead taking responsibility? Hmm? You don't tell me what to do anymore. I don't care about your respect. I've survive without it long enough, the rest of my life won't kill me." She smirked at the screen. "I let you get back to what you were doing. Judging by the day, I would say doing your weekly ritual of dying all your gray hairs?"

The other villains actually started laughing at that. They probably found it hilarious that the cockiest of them all couldn't even control his own kid. However, at look Maleficent shot her, Gabby nodded her head subtly, showing she was still on plan to steal the wand. The fairy grinned, probably thinking her speech was simply an act, and would more than likely explain it to her dunce of a father.

However, it wasn't. She may still be on plan, but she was done being her father's minion. If she had to destroy her happiness, she was doing it on her terms, not his, not Maleficent's, not anyone else's.

"Carlos!" Cruella suddenly crowed, her face filling the TV screen. "Is that a dog?!"

Carlos stiffened, hugging Dude to his chest tightly as Cruella's greedy eyes took in the dog's fur.

"Yes, yes, Baby, I do understand that it would make the perfect sized ear muffs!" Cruella cackled, stroking the stuffed, squeaky dog on her coat.

"He's the perfect size for a pet!" Carlos broke from the group to face his mother. "This dog loves me, and I love him. And FYI, your dog is stuffed! So, give it a rest!"

Gabby rested a hand on Carlos's shoulder. "I think we're done here. Bye, Gaston."

"Oh, oh, burns!" Jafar laughed, causing both Cruella and Gaston to glare at him.

"Oh, why don't you go sell a toaster you two-bit sales-man!"

"Or, maybe you want to take this outside against my rifle? Or how about I just beat you into the ground!"

"People who talk to stuffed animals shouldn't throw stones! And neither should men that get showed up by their daughter!"

Gabby closed her eyes in exasperation as the villains continued to bicker until Jay shut of the TV. All of them were feeling downcast. None of their parents had said they loved them, asked how they were doing, if they were enjoying themselves...all they cared about was that stupid wand.

Fairy Godmother looked at the children before her with a sympathetic expression, obviously berating herself for setting this up. The children had seemed so happy since coming here, and now, it appeared she was back to square one. No, Fairy Godmother was not stupid, like some may believe. She knew many of the students didn't accept these kids. What she didn't know was the struggles they were going through.

Girls made comments about how Mal was a home-wrecker, stealing Ben from Audrey.

Chad made it seem as if Evie was a cheater and a gold-digger, while also making it seem as if all Jay enjoyed was hurting people.

Most left Carlos alone, since, whenever one decided to throw a nasty remark towards the youngest of the group, she was there, slamming them against the lockers or nearest wall, her eyes promising pain if they were to harass their youngest member, and her little brother as she had come to think of him as.

Then, there were the comments aimed at herself. How she was simply a fling for Lucian...how she was playing with him to go after Ben, like her father did with Belle...how she probably cheated to seem so smart...how she was just an attention seeker like her father.

No, Fairy Godmother only knew about the tip of the iceberg, but she still cared.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said softly, even as they shrugged it off.

"Thanks for the special treat," Jay responded, offering the kind woman a sad smile.

"Of course." She watched sadly as the children began to depart, all but one that was still staring at the blank screen. "Gabriella?"

"Why are you so nice to us?" the young girl asked softly, hearing her friends discussing what would happen if they were to fail. They knew to leave her alone after a fight with her father. They all knew that she needed to recover before tonight. Tonight was when she would give out the roles with Mal, specifying each task that needed to be completed in order to steal the wand and get home. Even if they all knew none of them wanted to do it. "I know we try your patience with our lack of knowledge on what's 'right' to do. Why don't you treat us like all of the other people and teachers here that make it well known we're not welcome?"

"Child," Fairy Godmother soothed, taking a firm, yet gentle, hold of Gabriella's shoulders. "Just because a few students are not as...open minded, does not mean everyone here is."

"Maybe, but a good majority are." Gabby stepped away from Fairy Godmother to catch up with her friends, her dark mood permeating the air around her as she slung her brown messenger bag over her shoulder. "And I doubt they'll change, because the hero's never have to change. They're perfect, remember?"

Fairy Godmother watched on in sadness as the group exited the library, feeling as if she had failed them when they needed her most. She had helped a kind hearted girl to find her prince so many years ago, yet she couldn't help five children see that they were welcomed, and loved, even if it wasn't by their parents.

"Gab, did you mean what you said?" Mal asked quietly, glancing at the silent teen. "If you want out, we won't stop you."

Gabriella sent Mal an empty smile. "I'm still in. We have to do this...even if we don't..." She stopped, meeting everyone's eyes as they reflected the same thought in hers.

Even if we don't want to leave.

They continued down the hall as a united front, ignoring any jab thrown at them by their fellow students. They had a mission to complete, not to mention Mal and Gabby had to go to Family Day to meet their respective boyfriends' parents and other family.

When did our lives get so complicated...? she pondered silently.


"Okay, we all know what this looks like," Mal announced, tapping the skillfully drawn replica of their objective. "This will be up on the dais, under the Beast's spell jar. Ben will be coming in from here..." Mal pointed to the entrance of the cathedral. "And I will be up front with Gabby. The rest of you will be up in the balcony..."

"Jay," Gabby called, gaining the boy's attention. "While you're up there, map out where the guards are. Once Mal grabs the wand, come down. Take out any guards you can as quickly as you can." The rule no killing was already established. If they failed, they didn't need any blood on their hands. "You will also protect Carlos and Evie while they head for their tasks. Carlos...?"

"Okay, so I'll find our limo so we can break the barrier...and get back on the Isle with the wand."

"Perfect." Gabby nodded, turning to Evie as Mal brought out the perfume bottle filled with a blue liquid.

"Evie." Evie accepted the bottled. "You will use this to take out the driver. Two sprays and he'll be out like a light."

"While you guys are doing that, I will be protecting Mal until we make it to the limo. I convinced Doug to let me play in the front row. Lucian will be near me, but I'm sure Mal grabbing the wand will distract him long enough for me to get out of range so he can't stop me. Evie." The girl looked up from the perfume bottle. "Did you make sure the length additions to our dresses are easy to tear away?" The girl nodded. "Good. We have our plan. One last thing..." Everyone looked at her, wondering what else there was. "When we are at Family Day, keep up your guard. Some will bait us, try to pick a fight. Don't give in. We don't need to hand them an excuse to ship us back before we accomplish our mission."

The group nodded as one, the boys heading to lay in their beds while the girls cleaned up the plans. However, Gabriella's eyes latched onto the page Mal's spell book was open to.

She wants to break his spell...

Gabby didn't have the heart to tell her the spell had been broken. It would only hurt her, just like it would hurt herself when she had to turn on Lucian. She could only pray that he didn't force her to hurt him physically. She didn't even know if she could.

"I'm heading back to the dorm," Gabby announced quietly, slinking out of the room before the other's could object. She hurried to her room, closing the door behind her as the tears she wished would disappear trailed down her cheeks. Her attention was then grabbed by a little box wrapped in golden wrapping paper on her nightstand, right next to her bouquet of flowers she had moved there. Hesitantly, she picked up, her fingers trembling as she read the note attached.

I hope you like this. Please wear it to Family Day, Sunday.
Love, Lucian.

She opened the box to find a gold necklace with a heart charm hanging from the chain. She picked it up, only to notice a seem on the sides of the heart.

A locket...?

She pried the two halves of the locket open, the tears dripping off her chin as she examined the photo within. It was a picture of her wearing Luc's fedora while he hugged her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. She had forgotten that he had had Maurice take this photo, when they had first started dating, during club. They were both smiling brightly, and it made her heart shatter at just the thought of leaving him.

This simple photo portrayed all the reasons why she didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay here, be happy with him, and...be happy with her friends.

Gabriella:

A million thoughts, in my head,
Should I let my heart...keep listening?
I know...it's time...to say...good bye...
So hard, to let go...

I don't deserve him, she thought bitterly. I never deserved him...

Gabriella brought her knees to her chest while she cradled the necklace near her heart. She let the tears fall, even as Evie entered their room. She kept crying, even when the other girl wrapped an arm around her shoulders. And Evie kept silent, knowing her friend, her sister, was crying because of what they had to do.

"Evie..." The blue haired girl glanced down at her. "I think I love him, Evie..."

"I know, Gabby."

"I don't want to leave him..." Gabby's voice cracked as more tears gushed from her eyes. "I-I don't want him to hate me!"

"I know, Gabby..." Evie hugged the ebony haired girl closer to her, soothing her as her own eyes traveled to her chemistry test. They were all giving up their happiness here, and all they would have to show for it would be the destruction of said happiness. They truly were rotten.

Rotten to the core.

Does this make anyone else feel depressed? Honestly, this whole part of the movie, where each of them looks at a certain thing that they knew they have to leave behind, makes me so sad almost every time. Anyway, go on to the next chapter! Family Day!