Chapter 7

Ben caught up with them shortly after at a picnic table in the quad. None of them were talking, they just sat there longing for home, their Isle, where they belonged. Where Drac could walk down any street or alley and people would cower and run and listen to every word he said because they all knew his mother was in charge and none of them dared cross her. He'd never been bullied before, not like this anyway, and he didn't like it. At least on the Isle he could threaten anyone who crossed him, or tell Mal and she'd torment them herself. But here they were trying to fit in and Drac realized that in the rouse he – like the others – had started living the lie, they'd started enjoying life here. But after what just happened any ideas he'd had about feeling bad for the destruction they were about to unleash on Auradon melted away and he was glad that by tomorrow all those people who were just picking on him would regret it.

He heard a caw and saw Diaval flying toward them. He stood from the picnic table and held out his elbow which the raven promptly landed on. When he sat back down Diaval jumped onto his thigh allowing Drac to pet the feathers on his back knowing it would help his young master's distress.

"Hey guys. How is everyone?" Ben asked as he made it to them, "Hey listen, forget about it, all right? It was nothing. Forget about it. Let it go. Tomorrow after the coronation I promise everything will be okay."

"You're right." Drac said looking down at his lap where Diaval was playing with the cuff of his dress shirt, "It will be."

Ben smiled not understanding the hidden meaning in his words, then whispered in Mal's ear before he left. "I'll see you guys later."

After the prince departed Doug came over and tried to talk to Evie. "Listen Evie I want to talk about earlier –"

"Doug!" Chad called from the next table over where he was still trying to clean the bird poo stain from his shoulder.

"Doug?" Evie asked looking at him with sad pleading eyes.

"Sorry I can't." Doug said bowing to the peer pressure as he left. Then Audrey strutted over with Jane.

"How long does she think that's going to last? Mal's just the bad girl infatuation."

"Yeah." Jane agreed, "He's never going to make a villain a queen."

They both laughed as they walked away and Drac stood, feeling his palm burn and Diaval hopped onto the table. Then he noticed Mal open her spellbook and found an incantation.

"Beware. Forswear. Undo Jane's hair." She wagged her finger and Jane shrieked. When they turned to her they saw her hair was back to how it looked before Mal's magic fixed it with its original short chin length cut along with the massive bow to top it off. Diaval cawed three times sounding like he was laughing which made Drac smirk. The other girls ran their fingers through their hair worried the same would happen to them as Mal stood and turned to them with a glare. "There's a lot more where that came from."

"Excuse me, who do you think you are?" Audrey snapped.

Drac's fist clenched. "No one talks to us that way." He growled.

Audrey rested her hand on her hip, "Obviously someone should."

"Obviously you haven't seen the spinning wheel in the museum." He replied and Audrey looked shocked like she wasn't expecting him to know that. Technically he shouldn't but the fear on Audrey's face that she might be the next one to prick a finger made letting that tidbit of information slide worth it. "You like beauty sleep? How about I put you in a hundred year long nap?"

He saw Audrey falter, "You wouldn't."

"Does it look like he's kidding?" Mal asked before giving a shrug and flipping through her book making everyone around them flee. Mal closed her book and turned to the others.

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Let's grab that wand and blow this popsicle stand." She said before grabbing her bag and they all walked off, heading back to the dorm to finish preparing for the coronation. Drac fell to the back of the group as Diaval landed on his shoulder again and began to peck at his sleeve.

"What?" Drac asked before lifting his hand intending to stroke the raven's head but he paused when he saw his palm. The purple leather glove he'd been wearing looked like it had been burnt in the center revealing the pale skin of his palm. He remembered his hand feeling hot and felt the magic course through him but he hadn't realized how close he'd been to actually conjuring a flame. And that wasn't something he inherited from mom.

"Mal?" he called her and she looked over her shoulder at him. "I'll catch up with you later."

She clearly saw something was wrong and nodded her head as he broke off from the group. He headed into the woods and once under the cover of the trees took off running.

He needed to be alone.

Looking at his palm again he let the fear course through his veins. He'd never learned magic, but he knew how easy it was for it to go out of control. Whether he used it for evil or good. And he didn't have either of his parents to help him through it. He doubted Fairy Godmother would help. The last thing anyone wanted here was a well educated evil spellcaster. But one thing worse then that, was a spellcaster with no control of their magic.

"One more day, one more day." He muttered under his breath. Please, please, just keep at bay until then. Then his mother would have the wand, take over Auradon, and he could learn proper magic. He wouldn't have to be afraid. He'd have no enemies, no one who could hurt him, especially once he was under his mother's protective wing. As little as she showed them compassion he knew she'd never let anyone hurt her children. He didn't care if the reasons were vain and selfish – not if it kept him alive.

He kept aimlessly walking through the forest looking at his hands which looked so normal he started to question if he was imagining things. He found a rope bridge that crossed a gorge where a river flowed. He stopped halfway across it and leaned forward on one side, looking down the river to the Enchanted Lake where he could hear the splashing and laughing of other Auradon kids and their families. The ones who hadn't heard what had happened yet.

He took a deep breath and looked down letting the rushing river below calm him. Diaval landed on the rope to his right and nuzzled his arm with his head. Drac smiled, he really did love the bird. Diaval made him feel accepted, especially in times where he couldn't find the words to explain what he was feeling to his friends.

"Drac." He heard his name and turned to the left to see Aziz walking through the woods. Only he'd taken the actual footpath to get there. "You okay?"

Drac opened his mouth to reply, but the automatic yes got caught in his throat. Instead he let out a sigh and turned back to the side of the bridge. "I don't know."

"Queen Leah is. . . old school. And traumatized. Don't let anything she says get to you."

"It's not that – though everything she said was true."

Aziz let a moment pass, allowing Drac to collect his thoughts. He spared a glance back down at his burnt glove.

"What happened there?"

Drac bit his lower lip, "I. . . have no clue."

Aziz rested his hand on Drac's shoulder, hearing the quiver in his voice. He didn't ask anymore questions, though Drac was sure there were plenty bubbling up under the surface. He just remained silent, letting Drac flip through his own thought process.

Finally, Drac hung his head, "If I did something awful would you still be my friend?"

He knew the sentence was a terrible one. It all but admitted that he and his gang were up to something no good. But when he turned to Aziz there was only sadness in his face.

"I'm sure your definition of awful is different then mine." He began, "Worse then my imagination most likely. . . but, yeah, I'd be here for you."

"Why?"

He sighed, "Because my father was once looked at as a crook. They called him a street rat. Everyone thought they knew him, a pick pocket, a thief. But if they looked closer, he was just a poor boy, orphaned, trying to feed himself. There's always more to people then just good and evil."

Drac never thought about that before. But it was true. Aladdin had been wanted by the law once, and Jafar had been the trusted, respected Viser to the Sultan.

"I think there's more to you too Drac." Aziz said quieter, "I saw your eyes light up when you were playing the trumpet at the game. And again in the band room when Opal was showing you the equipment."

Drac looked down at his hands. He played with his fingers a bit. Then Aziz brought his hand to Drac's and pulled it away, flipping it over and looking at the burnt glove. His thumb rubbed gently against the skin of Drac's pale palm.

"There's a lot more to you." He looked up at him, "And it looks like that scares you."

Drac sighed taking his hand from Aziz' hold, "Some things. . . I don't know if I could control. Others, like music, are something I can't allow myself to explore because it's going to be taken away from me."

He turned back to Aziz who was looking at him the way he'd been before Queen Leah's outburst. He still had no idea how to describe the look – the same way he had no idea how to sum up all his feelings to his friends. His conflict about betraying Auradon, sure there were people like Chad and Audrey who he'd love to see fleeing his mother's wrath. But then there were people like Opal and Pin, Bobby and Arabella. And Aziz who he didn't want to suffer.

As he thought over all those thoughts, he didn't realize Aziz was getting closer until he felt breath fan his face.

Not knowing what else to do, Drac closed his eyes and waited. He barely responded when the kiss began and a second later it was over. Aziz pulled away and looked over the side of the bridge off toward the Enchanted Lake. Then he chuckled and turned back to the stunned dragon boy.

"You taste like chocolate." Aziz softly accused. Drac smiled.

"Hey give me a break, the last time I saw a brown fountain it. . . wasn't chocolate."

They both burst into laughter.

"Your Isle sounds like fun."

"Once you learn to navigate the danger, yes, it's very fun."

Another pause filled the air, but this one was more comfortable, the silence more relaxing. Drac turned and looked toward the lake too trying to get his hammering heart to shut up.

"This place just makes me question everything about who I am." He sighed, not sure if he was even heard.

"I get that." Aziz replied nodding his head. "Drac?"

"Hmmm?"

"This whole conversation. . . it sounds like you're saying goodbye."

Drac sighed and didn't answer that. Aziz seemed to take his silence as his answer. He let it sink in, probably wondering why Drac would be leaving, but again, he didn't bombard him with questions and accusations.

"Here." He said pulling the purple beanie from his head. "Have that."

Drac closed his hand around the hat that was placed in his palm.

"You'll always have friends here Drac. Just. . . remember that."

- - LONG LIVE EVIL - -

The next morning Evie woke them all up early to make sure she had enough time to get them all ready. Since she had been in charge of their outfits she refused to let any of them out of the dorms with so much as a hair out of place. Drac combed and gelled his green hair in its usual way though Evie had begged him to let her tame it, he refused, he'd wear anything she gave him but he'd never let anyone touch his hair. Maybe that was something he'd inherited from dad too. He put on a dark green dress shirt and a black thin tie before she gave him his dress jacket, it was the same embossed scaled leather that his vest had been yesterday only it had black lapels and cuffs. His pants were the same dark purple and he wore dark green fingerless leather gloves replacing the purple ones he'd accidentally ruined yesterday.

Mal had already left, needing to be there earlier so she could prepare for her grand entrance with Ben, which had Drac even more nervous without his sister at his side. He took a deep breath reminding himself that they'd be together when their big moment came, their group wouldn't be without their leader for long, when they needed her she'd come through.

"Got it!" Carlos suddenly shouted, "I had to do some hacking but I found the limo. Let's go."

They made their way to where all the limo's were parked and opened the door. Auradon being full of heroes no one ever really locked anything and they were able to get the button to the barrier which Drac held onto and the keys to their getaway limo, which Jay kept. When he stuffed the button in his pocket his hand brushed the beanie Aziz had given him. He didn't know why, but it helped calm his nerves by holding onto it.

There was no one else around to catch them, since everyone was on their way to the coronation. When they had all they needed they headed there too and mixing in with the crowd, made their way to the balcony like they'd planned.

Fairy Godmother appeared then and took to the stage, approaching the sheet that was covering her wand. She pulled the periwinkle cloth off with flourish and they saw Mal enter with her dark purple hair in a bun and her lavender dress standing so close to the wand Drac wondered if she could feel the magic radiating off it.

Then the music changed and the choir started singing as the doors opened and Ben stepped inside, as he walked down the center aisle everyone bowed to him, including the villain kids. He approached the alter where Fairy Godmother waited. She bowed to the king before removing his crown and approaching Ben who now knelt before her. She bestowed the crown on his head, grabbing her wand and began the vows.

"Do you solemnly swear to govern the peoples of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?"

"I do solemnly swear."

"Then it is my honor, and my joy to bless our new king –" Then the wand was snatched out of her hands – gasps from all around filled the air. But Mal hadn't been the one to grab the wand. Jane had snatched it and was now spinning – literally – out of control from the power that she now held. A bright bolt shot into the sky and through one of the stained glass windows making the people below take cover and shield their heads as shards of rainbow colored glass fell on them.

"Child what are you doing?" Fairy Godmother cried.

"If you won't make me beautiful I'll do it myself!" Jane yelled back as the wand tugged her arm around, "Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!" she shouted but nothing happened except flying sparks.

"Take cover!" The King –well former king –shouted. Then Mal ran forward and started wrestling the wand from Jane's hands.

"Careful Mal!" Belle shouted. Finally after a hectic tug-o-war Mal got the wand. Drac and the crew all made their way down from the balcony as Jane fled the hall ashamed.

"Mal." Ben approached her carefully, "Give me the wand."

"Stand back."

"It's okay."

"Ben I said stand back!" she shouted as they ran through the doors and down the aisle.

"I told you so." Audrey bragged before Mal turned the wand on her and she jumped back. Then Mal turned the wand back to Ben.

"Let's go!" Carlos said.

"Revenge time." Jay added next to him.

"You really want to do this?" Ben asked.

"We have no choice Ben, our parents –"

"Your parents made their choice, now you make yours."

Mal paused looking around at everyone who was watching waiting to see if she'd make the choice that would either save them or end them. Drac saw Aziz standing next to his parents Aladdin and Jasmine, Pin was next to his father and grandpa Geppetto, Arabella was surrounded by her cousins and Opal clutched the arm of her grandmother Mama Odie.

"I think I want to be good." Mal said softly.

"You are good." Ben told her.

"How do you know that!?" she demanded.

"Because, because I'm listening to my heart."

Mal paused again, "I want to listen to my heart too." Then Mal turned to them lowering the wand.

"And my heart is telling me that we are not our parents." She said smiling, "I mean stealing things doesn't make you happy." She told Jay, "Tourney and victory pizza with the team makes you happy. And you, scratching Dude's belly makes you happy, who would've thought? Drac, you love music and jamming with the band like at the Tourney match, I've never seen you look so happy. And Evie, you do not have to play dumb to get a guy, you are so smart. And I don't want to take over the world with evil. It doesn't make me happy. I wanna go to school. And be with Ben. Because Ben makes me really happy. Us being friends makes me really happy, not destroying things. I choose good you guys." She said putting her fist out, and after a moment Jay's fist joined hers.

"I choose good too."

"I choose good." Evie smiled and added her hand.

"So just to be clear, we don't have to be worried about how really mad our parents will be?" Carlos asked, "Because, they're going to be really, really mad."

"Your parents can't reach you here." Ben said.

"Okay then, good." He added his fist. Then the four of them turned to Drac, he took a long pause looking at their faces, and thinking of all they'd been through these past few days in Auradon. He'd seen them all show a different side of themselves, he had a new side of himself too. Mal was right, he'd found his love of music here, something he could never pursue on the Isle. He looked at his sister and they shared a smile but before he could add his fist to theirs there was a loud crash from above as another window broke and green smoke came pouring in. The next moment their mother was standing before them.

"I'm back!" she cackled.

.

A\N: So, in regards to the kiss in this chapter I want to lay down a few things. #1 Because Descendants is targeted for a children's audience I do not believe in mixing child-targeted material with anything sexual (this includes sexual identities) as an adult myself I can promise you there is plenty of time in life to be confused, stressed, depressed, and under pressure from it all. You've got plenty of time, you don't gotta rush it and ruin the 'ignorance is bliss' years that is childhood. With that being said, #2 I DO believe that we as a society don't talk about romantic identities as much as we should. (a deep dive into what asexuality is led me to this belief) Life is a lot more then sex, but once that is removed there are still plenty of romantic identities to be explored. So for those of you who prefer to label things or are wondering what Drac's identity is. Drac is bi-romantic. Or, well, he's on the path of discovery but will end up as bi-romantic (spoilers, but not really)