Thank you to everyone who has read, favorited or followed this story. It means so much to me! I haven't written for this fandom before so it is nice to know you are enjoying it!
Warnings: allusion to murder, child abuse and Poisoning
This is the last chapter where these themes will be obvious, but they will be alluded to as these kids deal with their trauma.
Despite feeling he was running a marathon without an end, Ben couldn't stop the surge of pride he felt that tempered the exhaustion. After calling in every favour his parents had owing, using every one of his fledgling political skills and appealing to everyone's better natures he had finally found enough royals willing to take the Isle kids. He could completely empathise with their reluctance, some of the kids' parents had done unspeakable acts that the kingdom refused to speak about even today. He had heard from his parents that cataclysmic impact these villains had had on the psyche of the older generation and had seen the scars they still left that seeped into his generation with his own eyes. He was just grateful that the royals in the world of Auradon were able to look at the bigger picture and peel off their prejudice long enough to make a plan with him. After all, despite the undeniable wickedness of the villains of his parents' age, the kids were innocent, and he would scream it from the rooftops if needed.
He was roused from his musings when his phones started to vibrate, sending it erratically dancing over the dark wooden desk. He sighed, placed his pen on the pad and picked it up, pausing only momentarily before clicking the answer button.
"Hey babe," He said, trying to mold his voice into something resembling cheer.
"Hey Benny boo, how are you? Are you almost done at the office?" Aubrey asked, her sweet voice acting like a sponge and removing the lingering tension.
"Just have to read through the proposal for the magic lessons, it is a little bit hard since Auradon Prep is a magic free zone and has the barriers up," Ben replied, running a hand through his messy hair.
"Well, why don't you have them learn magic outside of the school grounds? My family has a holiday home in Chandra, maybe you could have the lessons there?" Audrey offered, though Ben didn't miss the strained tone to her voice.
"Babe, I thought your family wasn't happy with my proclamation?" Ben asked, choosing his words carefully.
Audrey sighed, and he could visibly picture her playing with the rings that adorned her slender finger. "We aren't, but I love you and I want this to go well for you. My parent's do too. I'm not saying that we would want to house any of them, but my parents don't mind if you use our house in Chandra for the lessons, as long as we don't have to be there. I've already checked with them" she finished, and Ben just smiled softly, feeling a surge of love for this girl and her kind heart.
"Babe I…" Ben paused, stringing his mind to get the right words. "Thank you, so much. That means so much to me." He said honestly, infusing his words with love.
Aubrey was silent for a moment, and he could practically hear her mind ticking away. "If only we were a match," she whispered, her voice cracking at the word match, the term for soulmates.
Ben sighed and ignored the ache in his chest the words had brought up. They had both been so excited that day, when they said the magic words. They had scoured every inch of their skin for the soul eth, but had come up empty. His heart still hurt when he thought about how her eyes drained of every positive emotion, making the pains starting clear. He had cried himself, holding her close, not wanting to let her go. Just like then, she needed him, so he shelved his own pain to repeat the words he had said back then, still believing every syllable. "We don't need an etch to know we are made for each other. You are the love of my love, and I'll never, ever find a better match than you, my Rose," he said, using the term of endearment that always made her smile.
"You mean it?" she asked softly, her voice a few octaves above a whisper.
"With all my heart," he said, meaning every letter of every word.
"I love you, Ben." she said simply, putting every iota of love she felt for him in her words.
"I love you too. I need to finish up here, but how about I take you out for dinner tomorrow night, just us?" He offered, feeling the guilt bite his heart like miniature spirits when he thought of how he had been neglecting her.
"I would like that. I love you, Ben," She said, her smile infusing into her words.
"Love you too babe, sleep well my princess. I'll call you in the morning, I know you hate sleeping in," He said, adding the last word as he knew she was sensitive about her dislike of sleep. Though he supposed if his mother had been out into a trance like sleep he would have some feelings towards it too.
With a small thanks and another declaration of love, she hung up. Ben sighed, placing his phone back on the desk. Whenever he thought that couldn't get more amazing she shows him he is wrong. Her heart was bigger than any kingdom and her soul brighter than the Corona lights. He always found himself treasuring every moment with her, placing them in the depth of his mind to protect from all time.
He did mean it when he told her that it didn't matter that they didn't have a soul etch but sometimes he couldn't help but ponder. He had no idea why she wasn't his match and it made him wonder if there were sides to her that he didn't know. The Audrey he knew was his other half, the perfect princess to his prince. But maybe under the soft smiles there was another side that he didn't know and although he tried to deny it, it made it nervous. More than that, it made him wonder who exactly was his match and what did she have, that Audrey didn't?
As much as she despised her mother, she couldn't deny that there were undeniable benefits to being her daughter. She got the first pick of the food, able to choose the best, least rotten pieces of fruit from the pile. People darted out of her way when she strutted down the halls, choosing bruises from jutting out metal in the walls instead of facing her wrath. Though, of all the benefits she had, the best was probably that if she showed any weakness, no one questioned it, knowing that if they did, it may end up being the last thing they did. That last benefit, was particularly useful now, as Mal found herself sprinting down the halls of the school, making a mad dash to the toilet, her lunch demanding to make a second reappearance.
"Move!" she hissed, pushing the students into the rusted lockers without a single mote of care.
Her closest friends looked up from their chat when they saw the end of her long black leather coat slinking into the bathroom. Mad Maddy glanced at Yzla, and the two of them nodded and sprinted after the girl, leaving the boys staring after them with veiled concern.
"Mal?" Maddy asked cautiously, knowing the girl was likely to snap at her for interrupting her when her guard was down.
"In here, she slurred, before they heard her dry heave.
Yzla crinkled her nose but dutifully followed Maddy to the stall. Maddy gently pushed it open and her expression softened, feeling safe enough since none of the occupants could see her face. Mal made a pitiful moaning sound and Maddy walked over rubbing comforting circles against her back. Mal looked back behind her, uncharacteristically soft eyes. She pulled a face as she quickly refaced the cracked porcelain, holding it as she emptied the rest of her stomach contents. Maddy looked back and saw the disgust on Yzla's face, and couldn't help but roll her eyes at the other girl. Like mother, like daughter.
"Wet some toilet paper and bring it over here," Maddy instructed
Yzla opened her mouth before closing it and rolling her eyes, knowing her place. Maddy smirked as she saw the girl walk off, before turning back to her best friend.
"There is nothing here, I'll go find some and be back," Yzla said, not even bothering to wait for a reply before storming out.
"You okay, Lory?" Maddy asked using the other half of her friend's name.
"What do you think?" Mal snapped, her voice slurred and throat burning.
Maddy just made a comforting humming sound and kept rubbing circles on the other girls' backs. "What did she make you try this time?" She asked, making sure her voice didn't betray her by showing her pity.
"I dunno," Mal said, finally turning around from the bowl so she could lean against the cubical stall, and Maddy copied her, leaning against the adjacent wall so they could look at each other.
"She said it had Poison Ivy in it, but who knows." Mal said chuckling humorlessly.
"Did she at least say what it was meant to do?" Maddy asked, moving her long Aqua Green braid behind her shoulder.
"Once again, I dunno. I'm her guinea pig, not her partner," Mal scoffed, though Maddy could detect the fear in her eyes that simmered amongst the resentment. "At least she didn't burn me this time," she added nonchalantly, though it made Maddy's heart hurt more for the girl she considered a sister.
"Don't worry girl, once we get out of here and have our magic, she will be our lackey, and you can make her your guinea pig," Maddy said, grinning wickedly, which her best friend returned.
"Yzla isn't coming back, is she," Mal asked, smirking a little despite the drying vomit on her mouth.
"Not a chance. But hey, at least there's water," Maddy said, helping the girl up and taking her to the sink, before walking back in and flushing the toilet, internally thanking darkness that they still had flushing water at the Witch School.
She exited and saw Mal had cleaned up, and was standing there as if the past few moments hasn't even happened. She reached out her arm for Maddy to make, in a mock gentlemanly manner. "Shall we?" she asked, smirking wickedly.
"We shall, we got an Yzla to find," Maddy replied, smirking as she took her best friend's arm.
It doesn't matter what they had to deal with, as long as they had each other they could face anything and come out on top.
While Carlos hated Serpent Prep, it was a lot better on the days that Mal went to the Witch school, Hex Academy. He still had to watch his back, but he usually left the school a lot less bruised than when she was here, something that he was monumentality thankful for. He made sure to keep his head down and stay around his 'henchmen', the sons of Horace and Jasper, the only people his mother okayed him to be around. Not that he spent much time with them, his anger at them brimmed whenever he saw them, memories of them leaving him to his mothers wrath when she caught him trying to help them flooded back. But they were forbidden from laying a hand on him and instructed to protect him if needed, so they were useful.
Sometimes it sucked being a sickly child.
Not having access to doctors no one really knew what the sickness was. Since he was a child he was smaller, weaker and prone to getting tired more quickly than the other kids. His mother loathed it, kept trying to toughen him up as the other villains saw it was a chink in her armour. Though they always stopped very quickly, her skill with a blade was as legendary as her willingness to not just use it on dogs; humans were animals too.
"Carlos," Jace, the son of Jasper called out, as he made his way through the throng of students, being careful not to bump anyone bigger in the totem pole than him.
Carlos schooled his expression into one of annoyance, before spinning around from his locker and glaring at him, as if he had interrupted something important. "What do you want," he spat, not bothering to phrase it as a question.
"Er, boss Jace and I were wondering if you needed us after school, our dad's needed help at the tavern," Harry, the son of Horace, stammered, making sure not to look Carlos in the eyes.
The boy may not be the toughest, but he was extremely intelligent and wickedly creative, and neither cousin wanted to get on his bad side. Or worse, Cruella's.
Carlos theatrically sighed, making sure to pervade it with every scrap of annoyance he could scrounge up. He crossed his arms and glared at them; a perfect replica of his mother.
"Whatever, but you imbeciles better come around tomorrow. My mother needs her fur cleaned so you are doing it. Am I clear?" He spat, making them hurriedly nod, dimly reminding Carlos of bobble heads.
"Yes boss, we'll be there," Jace said, before they scurried away.
It was only after they left that Carlos turned back to the mangled locker and let the genuine smile across his face. Not long until he can see her.
"There you are, i was starting to think you forgot about me," he heard her beautiful voice tease, and couldn't help but grin.
"I could never forget you, Heidi, you'd kick my ass if I dared," he teased, quickly checking around to make sure no one had followed him before slipping into the damp cave.
"I missed you," she squealed, throwing herself into his arms and making him chuckle as he held her close.
"I missed you too," he said softly, pulling off the hardened armour he had to wear with anyone except her.
"I hate having to ignore you at school, I wish I could hold your hand and show the world you are mine," Heidi said, smiling as he raised her head to place a gentle kiss on his lips.
Carlos smiled and kissed her back, letting himself sink into the happiness only she created for him. He pulled away and gently cupped her face, an uncharacteristically soft smile on his face. He smiled at her beautiful shaggy bob cut brown hair before becoming lost in her golden yellow eyes, slightly narrowed like a dog's eyes. The only sign that she wasn't human.
"I do too, but I can't… I won't risk you ending up like… her," he said, his voice breaking on the last word as his eyes practically glowed with fear.
She smiled sadly, her heart breaking that her love was in pain, the guilt slowly eating him alive like millions of tiny parasites. She raised her hand and cupped his cheek, placing a gentle kiss on his jaw. "She wouldn't blame you, and I am just glad I'm with you, I am willing to keep it secret as long as I get to stay with you," she said softly, her breath fluttering against the sensitive skin of his neck like the wings of a butterfly.
"Thank you," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him, as if she would vanish if he let her go.
She wrapped her arms against him, holding him just as tight. She immediately let him go as if he was alight when she heard him wince, making him release him in the process. "Carlos, what happened?" she asked softly but firmly, worry and understanding radiating from her gaze.
"Mother wasn't happy that I got the blood out of the brush, so I spent the night in the pit," he whispered, shuddering as his mind conjured up the feeling of hundreds of rats climbing and biting him all over in the pitch black.
"Carlos," she whispered, her voice softening as the weight of his admission settled on them both. "Come, i'll clean them up otherwise they'll get infected." she demanded, pulling him deeper into the cave she had claimed.
"Hei, she wants them to get infected," he admitted, not looking at her.
"But if they do…" she tried off, both knowing that with his weak immune system it was as good as a death sentence.
"She knows," he whispered, his voice cracking at the indisputable fact his mother didn't care if he lived or died. "Besides, if you clean them she will know that someone is caring for me, and then It'll be like her all over again, but a thousand times worse." he whispered.
She sighed, hating the truth. "How come your face, hands and neck are clear?" she asked, making note of the lack of scratches and bites.
"Mother made sure I had cover on them, she didn't want anyone to see. Doesn't want to risk people thinking I'm imperfect," he snorted, rolling his eyes at the absurdity of the statement.
For a moment Heidi didn't know what to think. Sure, her father, the werewolf or as he was known, the Big bad Wolf from the Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood was awful, but he at least didn't want her to die. Her heart bled seeing the lost and afraid expression that had seemingly permanently taken up residence in his eyes. It was that moment that she realised she couldn't lose him. He was her sun, he was the forest floor that she craved under her paws. He was the air she breathed and everything she needed and wanted in life. She couldn't lose him to the cruelty.
"Okay, how about that. I clean up the parts that you can feasibly reach. That way she can't possibly know there was someone who helped you and your chances of survival will go up." she said, fighting to talk around the lump that was lodged in her throat. He seemed to want to fight her but must have seen her sincerity because he nodded, beginning to reluctantly take off his clothing until he was clad in just his underwear.
Heidi ignored the familiar wave of lust and scurried off to get her kit. It was meagre, mainly some distilled water and plants that would clean the wound. She swallowed back the sob when she saw the crusted blood and red blotches that surrounded every inch of skin on his body; the incisor wounds beginning to ooze with pus. She swallowed the bile and began the clean the areas she could get away with, fighting the urge to clean it all. It took a while, but she managed to make most of them clean enough and sat back, blinking back tears.
Carlos smiled a small thank you and began to put his clothes back on. He could see the water lining her eyes and sat on the ground with her, pulling her into his chest so she could cry her eyes out. She didn't try to fight him just curled up under his chin and cried out the pain that flared upon seeing his wounds; wishing desperately that she could take it all away. He just kissed her head and burrowed into her hair, breathing her forest smell. "I love you, Heidi," he whispered, holding her tighter.
That just made her sob harder. Her body was shaking and her sobs strangled. She managed to lift her head, knocking the breath out of her when she saw the unfiltered love shining in his eyes. He urgently connected their lips, letting herself melt against him. "I love you too, Carlos, so , so incredibly much," she mumbled against his lips.
He felt his heart race, becoming hotter than a supernova. He lost himself in the kiss, the pain from his wounds fading. As long as he had this girl in his arms and corner, he could, and would face anything, that he knew with every fiber of his being.
Eventually they pulled away, Heidi returning to the safety of his arms. He knew he'd need to return to his mother soon but just this once another emotion overridden the fear he felt for his mother, one filled with beauty and promise, and one he would cing to as an anchor in the dark.
Love.
Technology didn't work on the Isle, the magic from the barrier short circuiting any attempt. Sure, you may get a spark, but it fizzled out along with any hope. The same went with magic, if you were lucky you could get a single spark, but it vanished quickly, making you question if it was there at all.
For the villains that didn't have magic, it wasn't a problem. They adopted, having other skills that made up for it. But for those that had magic one, and could still conjure up the feeling of it in their veins, it was maddening. The inability to summon it made the anger they felt fester turning it into something even more insidious and dangerous. Those Ones tended to hide out and spend their time plotting, some driven to madness as they desperately tried to summon even an iota of power. Maleficent in particular was known to have become even more unhinged, her temper flaring at the slightest provocation; imagined or real.
Which was why, Peter Stabbington, the son of Patchy Stabbinton, lingered outside her imposing fortress. The only method of communication on the island was by post, and the only way for it to get there was by post boy. Unfortunately for Peter, he was the unlucky one who had to deliver it to Maleficent, though he guessed he was lucky he didn't have to go to the Evil Queen's after; that was all his cousin's job.
Sighing nervously he made his way to the intercom, trying to summon his courage "Um, Maleficent? Are you home?" he asked mentally cursing himself for the way his voice trembled.
"Who dares to interrupt me!" she thundered down the intercom, making Peter wince at her volume.
"I have a letter for you, ma'am," he replied, clearing his throat to keep his voice from shaking anymore than it was.
"Fine, bring it up here and leave it outside my door," she snarled, and Peter jumped to her command.
The gate opened with a shriek and he raced up the stairs, stumbling over his feet in the process. When he finally made it to the top, he left the envelope with the Council of Auradon's seal on her doorstep, before scuttling away back the way he came.
He couldn't help but sigh in relief when he left. Not bothering to look back to catch a glimpse of the elusive Dark fae he made a beeline to his next stop. Captain Hook.
Hello! I know I said I wasn't sure when I was going to update but I got inspiration for this story so wanted to write another chapter. Plus, I really cannot wait to get to the school! So many ideas!
Okay so Yzla is the daughter of Yzma, Mad Maddy is the granddaughter of Madam Mim and Ma's best friend. Unlike in the Novel where they had issues, they are genuinely as close as they can be on the Isle. Mal's full name is Mallory here, which means Unhappy or Unlucky, which I thought fits.
Heidi is my OC and is a werewolf. She can't transform though due to the magical blocking barrier but her eyes stay showing she is part wolf. All the parts that seem a bit hazy will be elaborated as the story goes, so don't worry.
I'll update again when I can, and I really hope you guys are enjoying it and if there is anything you think I can improve, don't be afraid to let me know!
Stay safe,
TBP