Isle of the Lost, six months ago.
While not as foreboding as Maleficent's Castle or Castle Dracula, the Palace of the Evil Queen was no less imposing. Lurking in the gardens were a vicious pack of hyenas, a scar-faced lion, a nearly 20' reticulated python, and a tiger. Inside were gathered some of the most feared villains of all time. Notably absent were those who sought to throw off the 'villain' label by trying to reveal the true stories of how or why they became 'villains'. No, these were the villains who did not repent or regret their evil choices and actions.
Regina, the Evil Queen herself, stood before her magick mirror as it showed various 'happily-ever-afters, a sneer on her beautiful face.
(Evil Queen): They say that ending are always happy.
The truest of love will save the day.
But when it's all taken from you you're left with nothing to do,
but wait for the day to make someone pay.
(Theodora): I was once the wickedest witch in all the land.
They'd whisper my name and quiver with fear.
(Gaston): The battle was won they thought that the story was done
(Evil Queen): Patience my dears, I've only just begun.
(Mother Gothel: An eye, for an eye.
A wrong, for a wrong.
(Evil Queen): Never forgive! Never forget!
(Theodora): What goes around, comes around.
(Jafar): I was once the most powerful being on Earth.
Undone by a wish in the blink of an eye!
(Lady Tremaine): My entire life was RUINED all because of a shoe!
The time is now you'll get what coming to you.
(Cruella Deville): They say there's a side to every story.
One that is black and one that is white.
(Davy Jones): We take it and break it,
we pillage and plunder,
we do what we like.
'Cause, we have a wrong we have to set right.
"Now, what if I told you there was a way to bring down the barrier, and finally get our revenge?", Dr. Facilier presented with a grin.
"How?", Regina asked, intrigued.
"Why, with a little help from my friends on the other side", the voodoo Shadowman grinned, sharing a subtle but knowing look with Theodora, the Wicked Witch of the West.
"I don't believe him", Judge Frollo drawled flatly. "He's hiding something."
"Let him speak", Theodora said.
"I warn you", Regina hissed, "this had better not be a waste of our time."
"No games, Doctor", Jafar warned.
"This man is a fraud", Frollo huffed. "I know the kind. He's like those accursed gypsies, they're all thieves and liars."
"I won't sit here and be insulted!", Facilier snarled, standing from the table. "Evening, y'all. Woulda been fun, your loss."
He headed for the door, only to be blocked by Gaston. "Pardon me, muscles, but I got places to go, people to curse."
"Sit back down", Regina ordered.
"Yes, if what you say is true, then we are indeed indebted to you", Jafar agreed. "Bring him."
"Whoa-whoa, easy there", Facilier said as Gaston walked him back and pushed him back down in his chair. "My, my, you got biceps to spare."
"And not a bit of me scraggly or scrawny", the big man beamed with arrogant pride. "And every last inch of me is covered in..."
"Silence!", Theodora hissed, cutting him off. "My patience grows thin, tell us what you know"
"This plan is foolproof", the Doctor smirked.
"I shall be the judge of that", Frollo countered, looking amused.
"My friends on the other side tell me that the young Prince of Auradon is soft-heated and kind to a fault", Dr. Facilier grinned. "Vulnerable to...manipulation. With the right kind of influence, he could be used to start a chain of events that will free us all. Influence that can't be blocked or prevented."
"What is it?", Ursula asked.
"Any of y'all heard of the Medallion of Morpheus?"
"The fabled amulet of the ancient God of Dreams?", Regina replied. "How do you know of such ancient magick?"
"My friends on the other side, of course", he smirked. "They're all familiar with the dark realms and their...secrets."
"The Medallion of Morpheus", Jafar drawled sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"God of Dreams", Frollo added, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I assume you haven't gathered us here to discuss bedtime stories?"
"The Medallion gives whoever controls it the power to access and control the dreams of others", Dr. Facilier asserted.
"Nonsense!", Frollo declared dismissively.
"I'll show you nonsense, old man!", Facilier retorted raising his cane.
"Enough!", Theodora cut in. "This is quite a tale you spin."
"If what you say is true, where is it?", Regina inquired.
"Shortly before we were all banished here, my friends guided me to it", he grinned, reaching into his coat. He dropped a golden medallion with ancient Greek markings surrounding the largest dream stone any of them had ever seen on the table! "I got it just in time."
"How does it work?!", Jafar asked eagerly.
"Well, that's where things get a little...tricky", Dr. Facilier conceded. "We CAN'T use it inside the barrier."
"I KNEW HE WAS A FRAUD!", Frollo accused.
"I'm afraid your usefulness is at an end, matey", Davy Jones hissed, his beard-tentacles writhing.
"Off with his head!", the former Queen of Hearts laughed.
"Whoa, hold on now!", the Shadowman urged. "I said WE can't use it inside the barrier. But my friends on the other side have no such restrictions. I know a cauldron ritual we can perform right here an' now to give them access to the medallion's power and use it on our behalf."
Jafar and Frollo grinned as they both said, "Revenge."
"Then what are we waiting for?", Theodora growled. "Let's get to work!"
(Dr. Facilier) An eye, for an eye.
A wrong, for a wrong.
(Jafar): Never forgive, Never forget
(Davy Jones): This is your last regret!
(Cruella): What goes around, comes around
(Dr. Facilier throws a tarot card in the cauldron): One more thing and all is done,
to turn back time the moon and sun.
(Lady Tremaine, throws in a dead mouse wearing clothes): Undo fates by ending told.
(Jafar, a cracked oil lamp): Tip the scales against the brave and bold.
(Evil Queen, an apple): Fruit of the Fairest.
(Cruella, a bone): Bone of a dog.
(Davy Jones, a broken clock): Clock from a pirate ship covered in fog.
(Gaston, a dagger): Blood from a dagger to add to the brew.
(Gothel, a petal from her flower): Let heroes be silenced.
(former Queen of Hearts, her playing card): The fault lies with you!
The rest all added tokens of their power.
(All): An eye, for an eye!
A wrong, for a wrong!
Never forgive! Never forget!
This is your last regret!
What goes around-what goes around-what goes around
COMES AROUND!
"Now, here's the plan", Dr. Facilier grinned wickedly. "And the backup plan. And those Auradon fools won't none of it comin'!"
Meanwhile, on Bald Mountain, Chernobog felt his mystical restraints fall away. He was FREE! True, he was still trapped on the Isle, but he was free of the chains that bound him to his mountain! His agents had succeeded! He would lay low for now and follow the plan. It was, after all, his plan.
"AMORA!", he called. The teen-aged succubus he had sired with the vampire Elvira arrived moments later.
You called, Daddy?"
"It has begun", the Demon Lord grinned. "Prepare yourself."
…...
Auradon present day.
Christina left the school with intentions to slink through the nearby woods.
"Like, wait up, Christina!" Shaggy came jogging out of the school, "Mind if I like, come with you?"
"I'm headed into the woods, Shaggy are you sure you want to come with me?"
"Yes, I'm like, sure," Shaggy slowly intertwined his fingers with hers.
He's spelled, he's spelled, none of this is real, Christina reminded herself to slow her heart and fight the blush forming. Her heart, however, continued to beat against her ribcage in the way that set butterflies aflutter in her stomach.
This wasn't fair, it wasn't real yet she longed to enjoy every moment because very soon they wouldn't happen anymore she'd go from school princess to outcast just as she'd always been.
In a month, Shaggy wouldn't even remember her name.
/...
The carnival posters were everywhere, tacked to walls, doors, windows, fliers stuck into lockers. Advertising things like rides and games, contests of all sorts. Melinda was amazed such things existed! When Dalton turned his back, Melinda tore the poster detailing contests from the wall using a spell to shrink it, folding it into her pocket.
The others just had to see this!
…...
"Scared?" Christina questioned Shaggy.
"Like, these are the dark woods"
"Yeah, not so dark, are they?"
"The crows are like, watching us"
"Not us, you, they like me"
"W-why?"
"I feed them, I come here every day, I treat them like living beings and not pests," Christina ticked the reasons off on her fingers, "Take your pick"
"They steal from the school gardens," Shaggy pointed out.
"They're natural mischief-makers," Christina replied, "No reason to harm them"
Shaggy ducked when the crows came flying from the tree, shaking with nerves.
Christina wasn't even fazed, turning her bag upside down letting the apples fall to the ground.
"It's okay, Shaggy, see?" she pried his hands away from his face, "They're only eating"
Still uncertain, Shaggy reached into his own lunch bag and pulled out the remaining half of the huge cluster of grapes he had, and tossed it to the crows. They devoured the juicy berries happily with the apples. Shaggy exhaled in relief.
"See? Nothing to fear, the forest isn't so bad is it?"
"No, it's kind of nice"
"Want to explore it?"
"With you?" Shaggy grinned, "Like, lead the way"
…...
Christina hadn't wanted to get tangled up with Shaggy, hadn't wanted to become so caught up but it happened nonetheless so she was extremely caught off guard when Melinda launched a paper airplane at her face.
"What the hex was that for?"
"They're going to have a baking contest at the carnival"
"A what at the what?" Christina blinked confusedly.
"Dalton told me all about a carnival, I told the others already but you were on a date"
"It was not a date!"
"Oh, it was it so was!"
"Shut up"
"Anyway," Melinda giggled, "I was thinking you could enter the baking contest with one of your Mom's recipes! Show these Auradon kids what they're missing"
"And how do you think they'll react to a villain baking sweets? Poison! Oh, save us!"
"Stop being overdramatic," Melinda chucked a pillow at Christina's head.
"Where do you expect me to buy anything?"
"You've been earning money from those magic makeovers just go with Duncan, if you hurry you'll be able to catch him"
"He's-"
"Entering the salsa making contest"
"That's a thing?"
"Sure is, now take the money and go go go"
It could be said that Melinda was just as hard-headed as her best friend which is how Christina found herself scrawling her name on the signup sheet.
Well, her middle name as not to incite a riot.
After which, she flew after Duncan who was surprised to see her off school grounds.
"Melinda force you into this?" he chuckled.
"She didn't force me she's just very persuasive is all"
"We are talking about the same Melinda who convinced Anthony Tremaine that he'd be respected if he demanded to be called Lord Tremaine right?"
"Or convinced Jay there was a genie hidden somewhere on the Isle"
"Didn't she get punched in the face for that one"
"Well, he tried but she kicked him so hard"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure everyone heard him scream"
"C'mon let's buy this stuff so I can get back to my book"
"Maybe you could buy some new books?"
"Maybe"
…...
Clawdeen was so focused on her designs that she didn't hear the knocking on the door at first but whoever it was were persistent meaning she had to push away the sketchbook, stumble over bolts of fabric left behind in her frenzy and pull open the door
"Hi, Clawdeen!" Sugie waved cheerfully, "Are you busy?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't mind the company," she opened the door wider, "Excuse the mess I've been focused"
"Can I see them?" Sugie nodded toward where Clawdeen had left her sketchbook.
"Keep in mind they're still rough,"
"These are so cool!" Sugie praised, "You should sell these"
"You really think that people will buy them?"
"They'll be busting down your door for first dibs"
This thought gave Clawdeen pause. On the Isle, her fashions were par for the course. Yes, they were the envy of every isle girl but they were considered regular Isle attire. But here she was in Auradon with the Princess of Auradon telling her the girls wanted fashions like these.
Slowly, the wheels began to turn.
Why not have a fashion show?
…...
I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. I've spent the last several hours baking the perfect pies. Cherry, not apple. Melinda officially hates me for it because when I came back to the dorm I came with a tray full of mini pies for her. But she is my taste tester.
While in town today I was surprised to discover the number of shops and the things found within. After buying my ingredients I couldn't help but buy a new book or two, I also found a nice journal.
Clean unused pages! Can you imagine it? That's what I'm writing in now.
I wish my family could be here.
I miss them so much. So much it hurts.
Snapping the journal shut, Christina watched the clouds march across the moon.
"What have I gotten myself into, Shade?"
