Disclaimer: I do not own the existing characters that we know and love from Descendants, although I do take ownership over Rose and the new characters
A/N: Don't forget to review- I'd love to know what you think.
Chapter 01
"Can you do that for me, Rose?" Mother asks me, flicking her black curly hair back. "Even with the barrier coming down, there's no way that we can allow for the villains to just live these lives of being goody-goodies. Not at all."
I smile darkly. "You got it, Mother. The pathetic king of Auradon might think that he's got us wrapped around his little finger, but I won't let it be that easy."
"I've more than enough faith in you."
"Trust me, I'm the new Queen Vee around here. Me and anyone else who chooses to stay here. My little sis, Ginny, can join me. I'll take her under my wing."
Mother cups my chin in her hands, shaking it gently. "That's my little flower."
"Now to see who's best to recruit. CJ Hook, or even her brother Harry would be perfect choices, but she's a bit over the top for me. He's... becoming the perfect little A.K from what I hear. I reckon the Queen of Heart's son, Rusty and Mikey Mim would help me make the perfect group of darkness. What do you think?"
"I think you should go and wreak a little havoc first. Make a name for yourself."
A sudden knock at the door startles us and I answer it to find Auradon guards standing there holding two papyrus scrolls.
"For Rose Gothel, and Ginny Gothel. You've been personally invited to take a place at Auradon Prep as a result of the barrier being lowered. Please, for you." The guard holds out the scroll for me to take.
"It's a solid pass for me," I reply, pushing the door shut. "Can you believe the cheek of that, Mother?"
Another knock at the door and I throw open the door. "What!"
My mouth drops open. It's her. Mal. Daughter of Maleficent. It's certainly been a while since I last saw her, and we used to be surprisingly good friends. With eyes narrowed, I frown at her.
"What do you want, Mal? Come to take us all back to the isle of pretty things and rainbows? Because somehow, I just can't see that happening this time."
Mal stops herself from making a sharp response. "Rose- let's not be too hasty now. You've been personally invited by the king himself."
"Sorry, I'm too busy staking my claim as Queen of the Isle. What with you gone, then Uma... It's not like anyone will be able to compete with me. I'm the daughter of Mother Gothel for crying out loud!"
"The offer will always be there. Should you ever change your mind, the bridge is always open for you to join us. You and your sister. The barrier is down and it's never coming back."
"What happened to you Mal? You were supposed to be the evil daughter of Maleficent. I would have given anything to have been a part of your crew back then, but then you had to go and get selected for that stupid scholarship."
She tips her head back slowly. Her blue curls fall gently behind her shoulders. "Rose, just come back with me. See Auradon for yourself. If even after an hour, you decide it's not for you, then you can return to the isle. There's no divide anymore. You aren't trapped here anymore."
"But this is who we are supposed to be- what we are meant to come."
"No, Rose, you're wrong. There is always a choice." Mal smiles, but I see straight through her.
The door slams shut, by Mother. "I never could stand Maleficent and her brat, lording it over us because she was apparently a Supreme Villain. Supreme Villain?! I'll show them. We'll show them all."
She walks away, her dark red dress slides along behind her. Plucking a spellbook from the shelf, she whispers calmly to herself, choosing the perfect one.
"How do you feel about becoming the Queen of the Isle, for real?" Mother asks slowly. "We can change all that. We can change everything that you are."
"What does that make me right now then?"
Mother rolls her eyes at me, drolly replying, "You're not a Villain Kid. You're not even mine, Rose."
Something changes in the atmosphere and everything feels hazy now. There's a high pitched ringing int my ear, like an alarm clock. A morning alarm clock to be precise.
I fall backwards and jolt sharply, kicking at the bedpost.
My eyes snap open and I can't ignore the racing of my heart.
It was all a dream. I'm still a villain kid. I'm still the daughter of Mother Gothel.
"Phew- that was some dream," I wince, gasping slowly. "Ginny- get up! Time for work! Ursula's wants us both to do a shift today."
On the bunk bed above me, Ginny leans over the edge. A mop of black frizzy hair looks down at me with bleary eyes.
"Don't give me that look, Gin. You agreed you wanted to make some cash. This is how you do it."
I throw on a leather waistcoat of purple and yellow, zipping it up quickly and tossing my thick brown hair back. A glance in the mirror and I'm ready to go. Ginny follows slowly, throwing on a deep red dress and jacket, along with a questionable flat cap.
"Ready for work, Rose." Ginny pushes past me and heads straight out the door. "Race you there."
Before I can join her, Mother calls out to me, "Rose- I hope that you're not planning on skipping over to Auradon anytime soon. I've heard that the barrier has been brought down and some of the families here have been planning a new life there. Your sister, you and I are staying here."
"Why does it matter? We're not going, are we?" I say, before being reminded of the dream I had. Something forces me to make sure for myself. "It's not like you're going to tell me that I'm not your daughter or something, are you?"
Making a joke of it does not soften the blow.
Mother slams the book she's reading shut. "What? Now where on earth did that come from?"
"No reason. I was just kidding. I guess what I was trying to say was that I had- me and Ginny... We're supposed to be sisters, yet we look nothing alike. She's got black frizzy hair, mine's thick and brown. Her eyes are dark. Mine are light-"
"Rose, Rose. Rose. We're done talking. I don't want to hear about the differences between you and your sister. You're sisters. Enough said. Didn't you ever think you might have different fathers?" Mother rubs her temples hard and I wonder whether she's going to be okay. Clearly I've upset her, so I choose to walk away, but her reaction seemed over the top. "Just go, Rose."
Outside, there's so many villain kids that are floundering to decided whether they're going to stay on the isle or whether they are moving to Auradon. I'm not fussed about the decision and carry on straight for Ursula's Fish and Chips.
Business is slow to begin with and I instruct Ginny on how best to work the tables. She's taken to it well, sliding drinks along the bar to patrons of the restaurant.
As it's pretty quiet, I go out around the back and perch on top of a large wooden barrel. I tell myself to listen out in case Ursula screams for service, or Ginny calls for help.
The water around the restaurant is still and laps up against the support beams. It's peaceful- making me sigh slowly. I never thought I would ever think of the Isle of the Lost as peaceful.
What was happening to me? Why am I thinking so positively- like an Auradon Kid would?
"Urgh..." I moan quietly, disgusted by the thought.
A chorus of whooping and cheers startles me and I rush back in through the kitchen hatch, dropping down behind the bar. Uma, Harry and Gil have returned from Auradon. I don't know whether to congratulate them or argue with them. All I do is lean against the bar with folded arms, acting disinterested.
It doesn't take long for Harry to slope through the room towards me. He rests his elbows on the top of the wood bar, flashing a charming smile at me.
In a droll and unenthusiastic tone, I say, "Hello. Welcome to Ursula's. What can I get you?"
"Gee, if that's the service we get here now, then standards must be dropping."
"My personal standards haven't dropped either, so no- I'm not going on a date with you."
He gently lifts the rose necklace pendant around my neck with his hook, pulling gently on it to make me come closer. "I thought we had a deal. You agreed that, if the barrier was ever lowered, then you would go on a date."
"Not a chance, Harry. I've told you once and I'll tell you again if I have to."
Uma drops her hands onto her first mate's shoulders. "Come on Harry. Rose has made it super clear you're not her type. She's not even in your league."
Hearing her quash his confidence irks me. Admittedly, I don't see Harry as 'my type' but types change and I'm a villain kid, so there's nothing wrong with us having a little bit of fun every now and again.
"I wouldn't say that," I whisper, leaning forwards, aware of his gaze drifting to my cleavage. "Try it then. Kiss me, Harry Hook..."
Harry eagerly moves closer with his eyes closed as I reach for the nearest bottled drink, holding it up in front of his lips and gently raising to give him the first sip.
"It's on me. Thanks for stopping by, Harry."
Uma eyes up the bottle. "That's coming out of your wages, Rose. Mum's not into free drinks and you know that."
I laugh, glancing over his broad shoulder at Ginny pestering Gil, fawning over the older villain kid. "Ginny, back to it! Order up to table five." I click my fingers sharply at her.
My little sister gives me her biggest death stare before snatching the plates from kitchen and dropping them with a clatter on the designated table.
"That girl's going to get me fired," I mutter, grabbing a cloth to wipe the bar with. "So tell me. Is it really true what they're saying about the barrier?"
Uma nodded slowly, jumping up onto the bar and propping her boots on a nearby chair. "True as can be. Mal promised us, and she delivered."
"But are you guys seriously considering going to live in Auradon?"
Uma cocks an eyebrow at me. "Aren't you? They have everything in Auradon. It takes some getting used to of course, but you finally get to feel a part of a greater community. To not feel like such an outsider."
I feel disgusted by her sudden change of heart. "I would have never pegged you as someone who would be so easily swayed. What is with you Uma?"
"Careful Rose, you're sounding like you're about to destroy the bridge to Auradon. For a moment there, you sounded like Audrey- this pretty princess girl who nearly destroyed everything. ..."
"Oh! That really would be an idea!" I squeal enthusiastically. "If you have ways to execute that plan, tell me. I'm totally all ears."
"Rose. Rose." Uma grips my hand tightly. "This is our chance to unbalance the scales. A fresh start. Don't you want that? Who would have thought?"
"No one. Ever!" I laugh loudly, checking the clock on the wall. "Right. I'm done tonight. Anyone up for drinks on the roof?"
Of course Harry joins me. It's just me and him sat on the roof of the next building over. In the distance, across the sea, I can see Auradon. The stars twinkle overhead, no a cloud looms over the Isle of the Lost anymore. Everything's changed. It makes me angry how everyone seems to have just forgotten their destinies. To be villains.
"Rose- what're you thinking about?" Harry asks, elbowing me gently as I press a bottle to my lips. "You seem... different. In a good way though."
I can feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to look his way. "Stop it, Harry. Stop thinking that you can tempt me with those devilish dashing eyes of yours. I kissed you before you left with Uma because it was the easiest way to shut you up."
"You enjoyed it though."
"Irrelevant. The point is, it does not mean that I like you, like you."
"Well that seems like a wee bit of a lie."
An angry yet feral roar rips from my throat, sending echoes all around the isle. It startles me and I let go of the bottle, letting it role into the gutter.
"Now that was unexpected."
I roll my eyes, desiring to be left alone. The thought that's stamped on my mind is hard to ignore, and there is no way that I can talk to anyone about it. It would ruin my integrity as a Villain Kid. Being this way is all I've ever known and I hope it's all I will ever know. I stand up quickly, stepping towards the edge of the roof, only Harry calls out to me.
"Have you ever wondered whether you aren't a villain kid? There's always been something different about you. Maybe that's it."
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = So I love creating new characters – but who is Rose really?