Summary: The Isle of the lost, the land of the forgotten, and damned. A place for villains and ''evil-doers' to live out their days in the bed they made. They claim the kids would be better off with their parents, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, or does it?

Dark AU, Mature themes, rewrite of Disney Descendents. Oc! Isle centric

Rated M for mature themes, abuse, mugging, rape, suicidal thoughts, and you know, villainry (ie. Murder, kidnapping, Frollo)

Disclaimer: I do not own any Disney properties, obviously

A/N: So this took a while. I ended up getting distracted with the Descendants 3 pictures, like damn Cheyenne Jackson as Hades is smokin, and the new looks are very very blue and red. Also Carlos kind of looks like he stepped out of a sci-fi, and I can't tell if Mal's hair is new blue either...hmm.

The dreams began when she was four.

Dreams of a time and place unlike her own. Where there were no villains or heroes, no magic, fairies or witches. Instead, those things were merely the world of fiction and imaginative thoughts. Even after three years into having these visions, words and almost foreign memories continuously bouncing through her head, Dame still couldn't grasp them nor control them in any sense.

Dame awoke early that morning. The sun had just begun to poke it's head from beneath the sea as the sky filled with bright oranges and yellows, scaring away the darkness with its light. It was a common occurrence, her waking up to the bright glowing orb of the morning. Although it wasn't exactly by choice as her bed was in the highest room in the tower she lived in, not to mention the window itself was a gaping ceiling to floor hole that was just as wide. If she were not careful in her sleep, Dame would no doubt find herself tumbling out of her attic space to the fifty or so feet ground below.

Rolling out from beneath her nest of blankets, fabrics, and moth-bitten carpets she slept in, Dame threw on her usual outfit of patchwork rags, commonly considered as clothing, at least here. Gathering her trusty but very worn satchel she tossed her weathered journal inside before stalking quietly down the tower steps. Making sure to pass Gothel's room with the utmost sneaking, no doubt the woman was in the company of a 'nightly guest' or three depending, Dame grabbed one of the less rotten bananas from the kitchen space (a hovel of a room with a fireplace and doorless fridge), before leaving the dark and broken tower that was her home.

It was funny how Gothel had somehow managed to snag the tower considering the nice isolation of it as well as being wedged between Ursula/Hook's territory and Gastons. Although a major part was most likely due to her mother's 'sleeping' arrangements she had that involved various men and several women throughout the Isle and with how vocal the woman could be probably scared a large portion of people away. It was the only logical explanation as to why they didn't need to double up with another family unlike the large majority of the Isle had to do.

There were exceptions to that of course, Maleficent and Grimhilde being too feared to even be considered, Cruella being way too crazy for anyone to live with (as the general public agreed on that), and the Tremaines and Gaston's 'family' were so big on their own they couldn't really make space for others. Several others like Dr. Facilier and Jafar lived above or behind their shops not that they seemed to bothered by their living place.

More notable villains, like Captain Hook and Ursula, shared one of the large shacks along the water although, given the sea witch running her own restaurant she could live in and the pirate having several ships that both himself and his crew stayed in, the house was mostly a playground for their kids if anything. And the likes of Shan-Yu managed to make the multiple family places work, turning his house and the street around it into a lack of a better term, a Red Light District.

The reason for the doubling or even tripling up was primarily due to the Isle's small size. It could barely host all the villains when it first was implemented and by the time the kids started being popped out left and right, there was beyond no room. The other reason was probably due to protection purposes. Either way, the kids didn't make the population any better.

Thank you, villains, for being unable to keep it in their parents. Very appreciated.

Making her way to one of the only open fields where things could grow, Dame began her bi-weekly picking process, gathering up herbs and flowers that she could use for medicine. Her knowledge regarding them came from the same source where she got all her information from, the visions.

Sometimes they came as dreams, spasms, and some just inserting themselves into her line of sight before disappearing like hallucinations. On occasion, information would automatically be registered into her mind like a book she had memorized to being moving pictures through the eyes of someone else. It was odd and crazy but either way, it was useful to her.

Doctors and medicine was a rarity on the Isle and while some villains or their lackeys had some basic understanding of healing (some more than others), it was mostly far and few between. Grimhilde, Ursula, and Facilier were the only three to have any medical expertise, the former of which hoarded to herself, the second never needing to call upon it, and the last would only give the bare minimum of treatment for a high cost and then force the patient to return again and again whilst basically signing their soul over to the man.

And so that left Dame as the only other being that could perform a hint of decent medical assistance and was willing to help out. At least sort of.

Dame did aid some, those who could pay as nothing could be free, a few trinkets here, scraps of food there, clothing and books if they were in useable condition, and even if not she'd take it anyways. If people couldn't pay, favors and debts were made to her, a funny situation given the fact she was merely seven years old yet had begun the start of a 'mini-empire' as Zevon told her trying to convince the girl to let the boy into her 'protection' and 'gang' (the idea of which she laughed and dismissed the boy).

At first, she wouldn't help others, unwilling to get involved in territory disputes, family feuds, and the various battles and fights that filled every corner and alley of the Isle. But after a few months, it became too hard to resist the curiosity of what she could be able to do in terms of healing and medicine, and so slowly and in the shadows, she began tending to the wounds, sicknesses, and injuries of various individuals. Of course, it didn't take long for the shadow gang, Freddy, Kaa's son Taka, and Reza Nasira's son to hear the word of her newfound talents and by the end of that week, the whole isle became aware to it too.

Gothel had, like always claimed any notable thing Dame did as her own, crediting herself for her daughter's talent which of course was quickly debunked by the Tremaines (who Dame had become their 'personal' midwife), Ursula, and most surprisingly, the woman's only ally Grimhilde who knew that she possessed no skill for medicine. After that embarrassment, Dame was then ignoring profusely by the woman and once again left to her own devices, a neglectful mother was better than an abusive one.

It was on her way back from the field, stopping by the docks and catching a glimpse of a certain dark-haired pirate on her way to an adventure, Harriet Hook.

The two of them, Harriet and Dame, had a strange relationship. They didn't hate each other nor ever attacked one another, the pirate never once attacking or hunting her down. Of course, it didn't mean that they were close either, but at the same time, they were probably the closest you could get on the Isle especially if you weren't blood-related. They shared more of a neutral relationship if put into words, Dame offered her services by patching and dressing the injuries of her crew and anyone on the docks who needed it and the pirates of the Hook crews knew not to attack or steal from her.

It was a nice situation if she were being honest, even if she were not near the docks and, for example at the bazaar and if a pirate was nearby they would escort her on her shopping trip until she was done. True it was a claim stake and while it was unsettling at first she grew to ignore but appreciated the pirates she'd come across.

The thing that did cause Dame to falter and walk closer to the pirate was the fact that two others were with her, a blonde haired girl and a dark-haired eyeliner wearing boy, CJ and Harry Hook. And as it seemed to be the norm, the three were arguing, probably over who got to have the ship for the day if their drawn swords and fighting stances were anything to go by.

It was common knowledge of the Isle that Harriet was the best sword fighter there while her siblings were miles behind her abilityand skill (although she was four years older than Harry who was a year older then Dame) while the next best was probably Han Westergarrd and then Captain Hook himself followed by Shan-Yu, Uma, and Hanna (Hans daughter).

Deciding to stick around a little while longer though remained in the back as to not accidentally get hit by a flying blade (which had happened several times before unfortunately), Dame plopped herself down on one of the less broken crates at the front of the dock. Harriet's crew having noticed her, most had nodded her way in acknowledgment already summarizing the outcome of the three-way death fight before it begun, glad she was there at standby.

Despite the life and death battles, the three Hooks would laugh and joke through it all, at least generally. Even though they fought with weapons, always trying to shank the other, the Hooks were probably the closest and in all healthiest family there. Captain Hook, though more of an absentee father to all of his children (there were another 2 on the way from different women) at least he made an attempt to care and teach them things. He passed down pirate trades and seafaring secrets taught them sword fighting and treasure hunting for each one. Sure, he let them settle their arguments through swords and cannons, but he held enough trust in them not to murder each other (or break his rum bottles).

At least the pirate shown some semblance of love or care unlike some did, like the Queen of Hearts, Yzma, or Hans. And the crews of the pirates, while common knowledge to betray other crews and allies, they would forever remain loyal to their captain. And since the Hooks held the reigns of the largest and strongest crew, one would be a fool to backstab them. Yes, the Hook pirates were nowhere near perfect, though at least they could look after their own a sentiment that was not so visible among the other villains (Anastasia Tremaine who had tried to foster and mother the many of the kids before she gave up) and surprisingly enough Hades who was the most chill and possible best parent there.

Before long, the duel was over, and with no big surprise, Harriet won easily, stepping over her fallen siblings like dead flies. The blonde quirked her lips at Dame before shrugging and boarding the ship with her crew. Once the ship had left the dock, sailing along the Isle's border as the barrier only allowed 30 yards or so of space making their ships significantly smaller than true pirate vessels, she made her way over to the defeated pirates.

"Come to laugh at us Dame?" hissed the frustrated and bitter boy, "Or perhaps you're just waiting to kill us now that we're at our low like a snake?"

Dame rolled her eyes, he was always like that after a loss as if it was somehow embarrassing yo lose to the best fighter there. "Would you like me to dress your injuries or would you rather spout idiocracy?" She replied deciding to look over CJ instead who was at least better tempered and didn't spit at her help.

"It's not like you know anything about fighting or pirates. You're the daughter of a liar and whore."

She raised her brow. It wasn't the first nor would it be the last time her mother would be called that, she was, of course, a master manipulator, a femme fatale and the Isle seemed to increase her mother's explicit activities. Although both herself and the blonde shared a look, as in fact about all the mothers of Hook's children were in fact prostitutes, however, Dame wasn't in the mood to argue that.

After bandaging up the small cuts and cleaning them with alcohol on C.J who quickly left with her sword, most likely off to challenge someone worse at swordplay then herself, Dame turned her attention on Harry who remained staring at her.

"You just going to stare at me all day or will you let me look at you?" She said blankly as his shoulders went slack in submission, allowing her to come closer. Again, this always happened, each and every time, fighting, insults, and then submitting. It certainly got old after the fourteenth time, not that the pirate seemed to care at all.

It was a slightly awkward silence that passed through the two. Because of how the dock was she had to almost straddle the boy while she cleaned out his wound and rechecking how the old ones were healing and scarring over. All around the pair, the dock and ports were bustling, all eyes away from the two with uncaring nonchalance as it wasn't a too uncommon sight.

"You done yet?" Harry asked her, though it came out more like a sarcastic quip, while Dame, totally not on purpose rubbed the alcohol rub a little too hard into his wound making him hiss and jolt away.

"Oops, my bad," she said despite her tone, "Yea, I'm done now, no need to thank me." Before she could even stand up and move away from Harry he bolted upwards, grabbing his sword and with a 'tch' and a few not so charming words went off towards his father's ship.

She sighed in annoyance. A part of her wanted to stop giving out her services to the boy, the ungrateful pirate, However, she also knew that because of her skill, the only she had that wasn't following the footsteps of her mother and sleeping her way to get things (at least both Narissa and Grimhilde hadn't stooped to such a level) Dame had the protection of the pirates. And not just the pirates, but the docks, ports, and anywhere near the waters that were the Hook's or Ursula's property, even if the later was far more neutral to her.

Sure she could cut out the boy but that would gain the ire of his family who wouldn't take too kindly to her 'betrayal' of one of their own. And even if she did align herself with others such as Facilier, or the Tremaines (the later having given her free reign on their hair and nail salons, no questions asked), it wouldn't do much good. The Pirates owned the seas and the shore, and seeing as how the Isle was an actual island, Dame would never not feel their wrath.

And so she remained giving her services out to them as for why should she punish the group when there was only one rude bastard in the mix? Harriet and C.J were decent enough and their crews always helpful. Besides they were strong allies, it would be stupid to turn them away.

Realizing she was, once again out of clean (or in her case, slightly not as dirty) cloth for bandages as well as running a bit low on alcohol, as it was the only thing that she could use to sterilize wounds and tools (and boiling the water wouldn't do much as it was so contaminated already and take too long to filter), Dame made her way back towards the bazaar and trader streets.

After grabbing what she needed from her usual dealers, and stopping by Freddie's store to see if they had anything new to be had, Dame finished up her shopping.

The rest of her day would've been fine except for a very out of place interruption happening from someone she never expected to see. Nor was what they told her something she never once dreamed of hearing, especially on the Isle.

"I need your help."

She gave the son of Jafar a look. Dame wasn't close to the boy, but she certainly had dealings with him in the past. Of course, everyone on the Isle had too, he stole from everyone and then made everyone buy their things back for even more then it was worth. After two or three times of the thief taking this or that, thankfully nothing to important to her, he grew bored seeing as how she gave him little attention nor ever went to buy or beg for the stolen goods back. After a few months of her things remaining in their shop, they had 'magically' been returned to her.

But other than that she never spoke to him before. Unlike his father who she had made a deal with, if he let her have first dibs to anything regarding medicine or even books, the two kids shared nothing with the other. So it did strike her as strange or perhaps peculiar that he had appeared from the shadows and decided to talk to her.

"I'm sorry what?" she asked trying to clarify what the boy, Jay just said.

"I said," he repeated a tad annoyed, "I need your help, Dame. That medical stuff you do, I need it."

She stared at him for a good few seconds before stifling a laugh, "Seriously? You can't just take it you know, it's not something you can steal."

"That's not what I meant," he barked back angrily, "I'm not even the one who needs you, it's Carlos."

Her laughs caught in her throat as she sobered up rather quickly, "What do you mean? Explain Jay." And so for the next five minutes, in a hidden and secluded area of the trader's center, the son of Jafar told her everything. How Othello heard the boy crying, and figured he had been locked in his horrible mother's closet and how Jay thought the only person who could help sneak him out was her.

It was a bit funny how despite the liar of a mother she had, Dame was one of the most trustworthy beings on the Isle. Uma and Hanna were the other most trustworthy, surprisingly, though it mostly only applies to their parents, not their peers. Dame never asked questions, she never looked further in nor shared personal information, as partially due to her information it wasn't good as a doctor to reveal patient data.

Although she wasn't actually a doctor, nor were the residents of the Isle her patients, most would willingly hand her over and feed her to the demons if it meant a night with a full belly. Yet, for a price, she'd give aid to someone no matter what, maybe that was why people saw her as 'kind' and 'too good' (even if she also had her fair share of poisons and excelled in Potion theory).

"Alright, I understand. Let me guess, you need my help to bust him out then?" She concluded when the boy had finished his long story. "Yea, that sounds about right, Othello will keep watch. My father doesn't expect either of us home, not as he'd care anyway, and your place is the most secluded to take him."

Dame nodded in confirmation as the two began their way towards the de Vil house. The son of de Vil wasn't close to Jay, in fact, she was sure they had never even spoken to, but nevertheless, she didn't ask why he wanted to save Carlos. Jay never seemed like one to associate with others, the lone wolf type of person, always working and stealing for his father to the point where he did it out of habit. She couldn't even recall anyone besides Mal and Evie ever speaking to the boy and in those cases, it primarily the way their parents made trade deals with one another.

So perhaps Jafar had a business relationship with Cruella and that's how Jay knew of Carlos, or maybe he had an empathetic bone in his body. Then again, Carlos was the sweetest boy in the world, like a little brother that you wanted to give the world to.

She and he had met a year prior, his mother had taken things too far once and called in a favor to Gothel. So mother dearest sent Dame over to help Carlos and make sure he didn't die. It was a terrifying sight to see the boy as well as the woman, a true monster of a villain she was to her son. Dame had to spend an entire 2 weeks at the house before the woman deemed her son in 'perfectly fine shape' despite her protests that he wasn't and had booted her out without any gratitude, as usual.

When they arrived at the de Vil house, Othello was already waiting for the pair. The small bird with bright red and blue feathers swooped down to the two and gesturing them towards the back of the house as to not be seen by the prying eyes of the street.

Once the coast was clear, Othello keeping watch and making sure Cruella was nowhere in sight, Jay and Dame shuffled inside the house. Creeping through an open window that as open just enough for the two, they hurriedly found Carlos.

Folded up into a small ball and locked from the inside, was Carlos, who was surrounded by Cruella's fearsome fur collection. But while the thought of a simple fur closet wasn't scary in the slightest, this one was the worst and probably worst torturous place on the Isle.

The claws and teeth all sharpened and glistening under the broken light which made them reflect menacingly. It was a tight space, impossible for anyone to actually stand in there, much less sleep or sit, guaranteeing it to injure anyone who had found themselves unlucky enough to be trapped in it.

It was like an iron maiden, only with the dead eyes of animals staring into your soul to the point of tears and madness.

That was where they found Carlos.

From the looks of it, he had been there a while, at least a day, and probably more knowing how Cruella was, forgetful and full of spite, even to her own flesh and blood.

Cuts and nasty slashes covered his chalky looking skin, as not just his body but his clothes and the floor below him was stained in dark red blood. He was whimpering, his lips quivering and body shaking from the cold and hunger to no doubt. The softest of words spilling from his broken and hoarse lips in the mantra of 'I'm sorry' and 'please mommy' over and over again.

It took a good minute for the two of them to snap out of their frozen states. Cautiously stepping closer, Dame leaned down beside the boy, not caring when one of the claws on a fur coat sliced up her cheek, "Hey Carlos, it's me, Dame, Jay's here with me." She began as she carefully brushed his face with her fingertips almost scared to startle him. Sad eyes creaked open as he looked up at her in fear and bewilderment before jolting backward in the realization that the door was open, and both Jay and she were blocking it.

"N-N-no! Please...I'm s-sorry m-mom, don't le-et her- I didn't mean-n -"

Half sentences of apologizes and fear rolled out from him as Dame gripped onto him to keep him from backing into the spikey teeth behind him. "Shh, shh, Carlos, it's okay. It's going to be okay. No one's going to hurt you alright? Trust me when I say neither I nor Jay will lay a finger on you." She tried reassuring the sobbing boy as he slowly began to calm and laying his head against her chest.

After a few more minutes she looked up at Jay who nodded, itching to get Carlos and himself out of there as fast as he could, "I know we don't know each other well Carlos, but I'm Jay and Dame and I are going to get you out of here you feel." And with that, the son of Jafar carefully locked his arms around the far too small boy as Dame shifted the weight over to him.

Making sure they left the place exactly as they arrived, she closed the closet door having half a mind to set the building on fire. Of course, she would never, as it would easily be blamed on Carlos and that would be a firestorm no one wanted. Taking one last look around the beaten and broken place, Dame followed Jay, who was still carrying the crying boy, out the window much to the relief of Othello, who didn't want anything bad to happen to them, at least Jay knowing his dad would plunk him alive.

Slinking through the alleys and jumping on a few of the rooftops and making a slight detour through the bazaar as they had wrapped Carlos in a ratted shawl to cover his face in case anyone noticed he was missing from the de Vil place (which was highly unlikely as he almost never was allowed out). Once they passed through all the unseen areas they finally arrived at the trees, making sure to not wander in Chernobog's territory as they made it to the tower.

Jay gave her a 'really?' look, never having seen the tower before as she rolled her eyes before entering the hallowed place. Checking that her mother and any lingering 'playmates' or guests weren't there, she motioned for the others to follow her.

Closing the door behind them as Carlos was set down on her bed nest of blankets as Jay and Othello began to look around the hemisphere room. While they poked through her things Dame on the other handset to work. First cleaning and disinfecting everything, and she didn't know if she should be relieved or more concerned with Carlos's lack of reaction to the alcohol she used.

His skin begun filling with color once more as she finished wrapping and cleaning his cuts. There wasn't much more she could do for him except giving the boy a small cup of soup (which was just broth and some questionable green things in it) along with a stale crust of bread. Thankfully, he didn't notice that she had slipped in a few expired pain pills that she had thankfully found a few months past in one of the trash shipments, and though expired, it was at least something.

Once Carlos had fallen asleep, his body curled up in a tight ball with Othello snuggled around his arms. It was a peaceful sight, almost sweet as she got up from the nest of blankets careful not to disturb them as she tip-toed over to Jay.

"He's asleep finally. The medicine should be kicking in and he'll be out for a while. I'll need to redress his wounds in about six hours." She told him as the boy only nodded, face and body turned away from her.

Dame followed Jay's gaze, finding him staring out into the darkened night that was on full view from her window. But the view over the Isle was not what grabbed his attention but rather the bright shining lights that came from across the water, Auradon.

"Interesting view you have," he commented after a few moments, "It looks like a giant light bulb," himself referring to the outrageously lit city lights that covered every inch of the shore.

She nodded in agreement as the two fell into silence once again, "Ever imagine what it would be like to live there?" She asked him curiously even though she knew full well that such a question, asked the wrong person could result in her being maimed, stabbed, or thrown off a cliff.

The dark haired boy simply hummed in affirmation, "I think life would be better if we lived there-" he looked over at Carlos and Othello's sleeping form as they snuggled closer under the mound of blankets, "-and they deserve better, they don't fit here, just like you. You're too nice, too helpful, you're not evil like the rest of us."

"Just because you're a thief, it doesn't mean you're evil Jay. Look at Aladdin or Eugene, they were thieves and look how they ended up," Dame tried to reason although it fell to deaf ears when he laughed at them.

"But look at all the people in the bazaar or the cobbles, their theives and they ended u here, this is where I belong."

"..."

"What? Chernobog got your tongue? If you have something to say, say it I think we've reached that level in our relationship."

"If-" she paused fiddling with the loose threads on her shirt, "-if you had the choice, would you want to leave the Isle? If somehow Auradon decided to let us, you, to go there, attend school and live there, would you?" She asked in full honesty, as she recalled the blurry visions of him and Carlos dressed in Aurodorian sports uniforms and smiling brightly under the blue and white banners.

The boy avoided eye contact with her opting to look back towards the shore across the water before taking in a deep breath, "No." he stated firmly "This is my home, I belong here, the Royals would never allow the son of Jafar anywhere near them and," this time he stared straight at her, "I wouldn't blame them. They put our parents here for a reason, and they left them to keep and raise us for a reason. Maybe in fear, maybe to make us be the villains of their children's and grandchildren's lives who knows, but they didn't want us."

With that Dame could only contemplate his words, wondering if maybe, just maybe he was right. Perhaps the real reason the children of the Isle were kept in poverty, malnourished, and beaten on a daily was so they grew bitter and would then be forced to make their kids become heroes. From that day on, every time she would look over to Auradon, a feeling of disgust and bitterness swelled insider against the beings who abandoned, all of them.

.

.

Notes:

Taka- Son of Kaa the snake OC

Reza-Son on Nasira (the 2001 Aladdin villain, aka Jafar's cray cray sis) OC

Othello-Son of Lago

A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this here, I got wrapped up in other works haha. Anyways welcome to the dark shit I added, and there will be more in the next chapters. It won't be a super slow burn to Auradon but it won't be happening till chapter 10, but I swear it'll be worth it. And don't worry Harry will be getting loads more story time (as will Gil and the others, so look forward to that!)

Edited/Revised: 6/9/2019