Audrey's POV

Well, I knew this was coming! Didn't I say that Ben's decree would be the highlight of the next School of Secret update!?

It started simple:

I wake up in my dorm room, the sun is shining, birds are singing on the rooftops and suddenly, my phone starts buzzing. I answered it, thinking it was just a friendly message from Ben or Chad or Nicole about cheer practice, but I see it's Lonnie instead, which read:

Morning Audrey, sorry to start your day off like this, but you need to watch this! - Lonnie

Attached to the message was a link, which I clicked on the school website and, low and behold, there it is:

The newest upload of School of Secrets!

The title this time? "'Decree"'.

I clicked on it and began watching:

([Shows a male student in a light blue shirt and beanie snoring on the table as his companion tries to wake him up - to no avail.]

[Arrow appears to point out Sleepy is his dad... "obviously".]

"So, as you know, years ago, my father King Adam banished all the villains from the land of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost (crowd cheers) hold on, hold on. Now I've come to realize that the descendants of these villains who, up until now, lived in the shadows of their parents' wrongdoings deserve a chance to determine a path of their own-

(Whoo, Prince Ben-wait what?

(What'd he talking about?)

[What is Prince Ben getting at?]

- Which is why, as my first royal decree, I decided to invite four students from the Isle of the Lost to Auradon Prep this year .

(microphone booms in the background as the crowd goes silent) [Seriously? He slept through this?] Now I'm sure you have questions-"

"Dozens."

Villain kids at Auradon? This changes everything.

Be good, Auradon. Someone's watching.)

The video ended and I had to blink a couple of times to comprehend what I just witnessed.

Once again, I pray the person behind this isn't who I think it is! Take away she's such an internet troll, she embarrassed a son of the Bergmanns' and - Oh boy, I almost feel sorry for the cousins. Seriously, she owes him an apology for mocking his Hypersomnia! Big time!

I marched to class and on my way, I couldn't help but listen to the whispers.

"Is Ben insane? Peace for twenty years and he wants to mess with that?"

"Who do you think he's gonna bring over? Please let it not be The Shadow Man! I grew up in Towering Heights and lemme tell you: I had nightmares as a kid about shadow monsters stealing my soul!"

"Dude, he's not bringing villains themselves over, just their kids! So it's any of his kids you have to worry about!"

"I heard a rumor that the isle was made from the slumbering body of Chernabog! What if opening the barrier wakes him up?!"

"Ugh, I'm so tired of hearing about this lame decree! I spent all day studying for that pop quiz in English and now it all lost due to that stupid-"

I tune out as soon as I can. Alright, so ridiculous rumor mill? That started quickly, though I'm not surprised.

Of course, the first thing on everyone's mind is who's being picked. Safety, yes, but who's coming to impede on the longstanding serenity that was our fair Auradon. But I can't say I'm not curious either. Picking someone who needs to be here might as well be finding a straw of hay in a haystack.

I walk into my first period, English with Ms. Tessa, and as soon as class started, it felt like the tensions eased a bit. However, that didn't last long until Ms. Tessa stood in front of the class. She's a pretty chill teacher, very understanding, but her posture and the wringing of her hands made her look nervous.

"Now class, after yesterday's special announcement, it has become...uh, aware to our detention that some of you may be curious about the recent decree," Ms. Tessa says anxiously, "so at the moment - Martin, if you will - please pay attention to the handouts given to you. It explains the details regarding the decree further if you have any questions."

All over class, everyone was given a yellow paper with a Beast seal (the royal seal of the Beauchamps).

"Dear students of Auradon Prep,

It has come to the attention of Prince Ben that two decades since the alliance of the United Kingdoms of Auradon has been prosperous. In a land of serenity with restrictions of magic, King Adam banished the villains and those who followed them (with convicted felons of major crimes). However, in light of the recent change of events, it was decided by the prince to reevaluate the quality of life of those who live on the Isle of the Lost, particularly those in your age group and younger.

In a month, four random students from the Isle of the Lost will be chosen to come and study at Auradon Prep. They will room and board here at the expense of the royal family study as your peers in the meantime. It is expected that we treat them as openly and indiscriminately as possible. It is also encouraged that you learn about one another's backgrounds and grow to even see similarities rather than judge them by the actions of their parents.

Until their arrival in the upcoming month, there will be a Welcoming Committee where students are encouraged to join and make the new students feel welcome and help them adjust to their new surroundings as well as the capital itself.

Registration to sign up for the Welcoming Committee will start today. Those who join will receive extra credit and community service hours for participation and attendance. Registrations will be held at Senior Building A and will continue until the last week of the month.

Go Fighting Knights!

It was finished with the school insignia and the royal family's seal on the bottom right, to ensure the school knew that both parties were working together on this

Short, thorough, he didn't answer all questions but was hammering down the more important aspects of the decree. Yeah, it looks like Ben's trying to empathize just how crucial all this is for him while covering the bases.

And yet, why do I get the feeling I won't be seeing Ben for a while?

"As the handout says, registrations are starting today," Ms. Tessa quickly says, "so do any of you have you'd like to say for the upcoming events?"

And like that, every single hand in a class of twenty-something students shot up in the air!


Ben's POV

Did I think it would be easy? No.

Did I think others would be open? Admittingly, I believed some might.

Did that matter? Judging by the respectable looks hiding curiosity and animosity, I'll guess I'd just have to see where things go.

The days before the assembly had been a bit hectic.

Contrary to what I had my dad believed, I didn't exactly know if the four villains I picked from the Isle had kids to begin with. I know, I know, that sounds pretty bad and ignorant, but it was just an example and a test to see how my dad reacts. Considering what I revealed, either he knew they had children or he didn't and assumed. Not wanting to take any chances, I donned my public school persona and went back to ACBC to talk to the workers. Luckily, my deceit (man, I hate that word!) went unnoticed and I was able to talk to those who bring the barges into the Isle. One such man, an older guy with silver hair who must've been running rounds for years, was rather enthusiastic about telling me all he's seen. If you pay a goblin well with a gold coin - a rare currency on the Isle, but not so much in Auradon - they'll give you any information and tell you anything ranging from gossip to turf wars.

Despite myself, I found myself asking if he was aware of any major villains who had kids. I casually listed off the main four I intended to look for and he just laughs at me! Laughs! It was a cross between hilarious and legit maniacal, but once he saw how creeped out I looked, he calmed down.

Flashback...

"Aye, ask and you shall receive," the old man mock-bowed, "I've been doing this job for nearly a decade and there's a lot to be seen from this place. I'm one of the few who don't mind getting their hands dirty and going inside the barge to speak to the goblins. So, imagine my surprise one day when I came across small children with half-wooden swords, a young lass with dark hair, the leader I guess, attacking the goblins over the recent deliveries from barges. Some tried to put up a fight, but it wasn't much of one, to begin with. Stole everything that was of value! Once it was over, I learned it was a miniature pirate crew formed by the lass, her father being no one other than Captain James Hook himself!"

"That must've been a shock!" I said eyes widened. So Captain Hook has a kid? I needed to remember that.

"Aye," he grumbled, "I haven't seen much of her nowadays, but I know she's older than you. Probably in her twenties now. The First Batch, that's what I call them. The first wave of children to be born there. I felt...well, anyone with a conscience would something about children being born there and I know I wasn't the only one to report them! But I ain't seen anything done from our end. I admit I tried to get nicer necessities on my barge, well, as far as nicer get over there, but you don't know that place, uh, what's your name again, son?"

"Mitchell."

"Aye, yes, Mitchell," he repeated before continuing, "you don't know that place. Everything is first-come-first-serve over there! The goblins obviously need the barge for their livelihood, but should anyone attack the barges? Whatever gets found first is treated like a spoil of war! A treasure even, as a goblin 'friend', if you will, would say."

I nodded and then remembered something. "Hey, you said Harried was part of the '"The First Batch"'. You mean there might be kids my age?"

This time he laughed, but not with much humor. "I'd say there were three waves of children born on that island, Mitchell! Ms. Harriet was likely one of the first ones, though I heard Gaston had twins of his own -Ha! If King Adam heard that, Prince Ben would have siblings! - But then, one particular day, the Isle looked dark and gloomy, more than usual, and even the goblins looked scared! I asked what's wrong and suddenly, a piercing cry echoed across the island. Maleficent bore a child, gods have mercy!"

"Did you ever see the child?"

"No, not really," he admitted, "and I can't tell if that was a good thing or not. Listen, in terms of power, metaphorically, Maleficent pretty much runs the majority of the Isle, so you can probably imagine the type of sway that comes with being her kid. Though I was told you could tell she was the Dark Fairy's because she's nastier than a wild animal and wears purple like her mother. Her hair matches that too. Fit for evil royalty, I hear."

Purple hair? My mind backtracked to that eerie dream I had. Of a girl with purple hair, glittery, green eyes, and a mischievous smile. Could this girl be her? Maleficent's daughter?

"-of course, in terms of royalty, she wasn't the only one born. While she didn't terrify the goblins, the Evil Queen also had a baby girl."

Ben shook himself out of his reverie. This was not the time nor the place!

"Did you hear of her name?" he asked.

The old man shook his head. "Can't say I did, but this is the Queen of Vanity we're talking about. She probably named her after herself!"

He had a point.

"What about the last two villains, Jafar and Cruella?" he pressed and stepped back when he saw him give a questionable look.

"Why are you so interested in the Children of the Lost?" he inquiries.

I shrugged my shoulders and tried my best to look sheepish. "Sorry, I guess I just got ahead of myself. I named the four as examples and with the way you were describing them, I guess I assumed you knew a lot and got carried away."

As a prince, I wasn't immune to telling small fibs to throw off the press, but it's now dawned on me just how good of a liar I am. And I'm not sure how I felt about that.

I must have been believable because the old man sat back in his seat and shrugged. "You're a kid. It only makes sense you wanna know about other children from different places. Have you ever left the Capital or have you traveled?"

"I once vacationed in Charmington," I admitted, which was true since I was visiting my godfather, Prince Florian, and his wife, Princess Snow White.

"Exactly," he said, before he sighed, "if you can only go so far, you can't imagine life for others your age, whether their common folk like you and me or royals. "

And again, he's right. An amateur would think everything in the kingdom is super close when really, it's not. Everything is spaced out for miles, hence why we have cars and trains (we still haven't figured out flight yet without teleportation magic or flying carpets). With the exceptions of royals and magic users, most could get around by landbound vehicles, boats, trains, or horseback. "So, what do you know?"

"I know what gossip and tips get me. Of course, the former isn't always reliable, but it's enough," he said. "Actually, I did come across some information regarding the children of the four. Cruella has a kid, though that could be considered minor gossip. Never saw him. The Evil Queen and her little girl were banished far away - well as far as you can get - and recently returned. As for Jafar's kid? He is the bane of everyone's existence! Nothing can be left alone without him getting his hands on it! He and Maleficent's daughter are as thick as thieves as far as things go."

So, Maleficent runs the Isle, making Mal her "heir". Then, the Evil Queen has a daughter, possibly as vain as her. Jafar's kid is the origin of Sultan Aladdin in the worst possible way. And Cruella's son was "minor gossip", which means he's potentially the easiest of the four to deal with.

Sounds like I have my work cut out for me.

Flashback ends...

While initially glad I wasn't wrong about the four having children, after hearing of three sets of children born within those twenty years of the Isle, I just knew I needed to find out how many.

I put aside being King, which means my parents (mainly Dad) can pull the plugs on this at any time. So, as much as I want to think long-term, I needed to plan carefully with the four I chose.

Convincing my parents to foot the bill for their tuition wasn't a problem. Aside from ruling a kingdom, my parents were philanthropists. Auradon Prep was once one of their castles before turning it into a school and Mom has a few scholarships that allowed students to attend there. So, paying for kids born in a prison island they shouldn't have been living in, to begin with? Of course, this was going to come out of the Crown's pockets! And allowance, since it recently occurred to me the monetary system would be vastly different from what they're used to.

"And laws, Ben. These kids grew up around thieves and murderers, amongst their parents' crimes. Rules exist for a reason and they need to understand whatever was allowed over there won't be tolerated in Auradon."

Ah, and that would be Audrey talking. Not condescending, but it did bring out a bit of irritation knowing she's right.

Though part of me can't help but feel like rules were meant to be broken.

For the next two weeks, extending to going back to Auradon Prep, I had to put into work introducing the concept and was taking a big risk springing this on the other students, especially the royals and nobility who no doubt told their parents. Some got the memo ahead of time, others found out when their kids did. So, there's PR damage, a lot of discussions, and "helpful suggestions" on who NOT to bring over.

Seriously, it's their kids, not their parents!

Next, was the Welcoming Committee. Looking back, to be honest, it was my parents' idea to add the bit about community service as extra credit. If students felt strongly against helping, then add in something that makes them look good. Students love extra credit - if they need it - and if you're someone in the public eye, community service also looks good! I haven't thought about that. You shouldn't need a reason to do good!

And lastly, well, I was catching up on this "School of Secrets" webcast. I was so busy that I hadn't even realized such a feed existed, but now, I can't help but feel a bit glad I don't eat at the cafeteria much these days. I knew not everyone was perfect, but there's being self-aware and watching the brutal honesty in front of you. There were only three episodes so far, and it brought to his attention three things: The students' privacy was being violated and needs to stop, the person behind the feed owes Schneider Bergmann - Sleepy's son - an apology, and Ben can't help but feel the person behind the feed is someone he knows. It's just a hunch, but it can't be one of his friends.

I was excused from the last tourney practices for good reason, but today, I needed to take responsibility as captain. Chad could only be left in charge for so long.

I was heading towards the locker room in my practice uniform when I walked smack into Audrey as she turned a corner.

"Oompf!"

"Ouch!"

A testimony to how much both of us were lost in our heads as we landed on the ground.

"Oh! Sorry, Audrey!" I quickly apologized as I helped her up. I looked at her and noticed she had on her cheer practice outfit which consisted of a blue and white skirt with a yellow shirt with an "A" on it.

"No, just rotten luck!" she said once she got on her feet.

"So...," I trailed, "how's everything looking on your end?"

She snorted. "If you thought people would agree willingly to this, you have a storm coming. Nice touch on the extra credit!"

"I've been dodging complaints and talking to royal families about this," I sighed, tilting my head back, "I'm not even going to be king, but I already have loads of paperwork to work on, besides Tourney and other stuff."

"Like the student council meeting we have at the end of the day?" she asks, though it was stated more as a reminder.

I snapped my head towards her, eyes wide open and my jaw dropped. "That's today!? I completely forgot about it!"

"Figured so. Meanwhile, I have to listen to ridiculous rumors about the VKs!"

"VKs?" That's a new term.

"Thank '"School of Secrets"'! Ever since she called them the '"villain kids"', it somehow morphed into the '"VKs"' and caught on quickly!" she says exasperatedly. "And speaking of quickly, wanna walk me to the field?"

He offered his arm to her which she graciously loops in his before walking in the direction of the field.

"So, how are the Bergmann cousins?" He asks.

"Fine, except they weren't!" Audrey starts. "Heidi was FURIOUS and cursing up a storm in German and Billie tried multiple times to calm her down. Schneider cried himself to sleep after being humiliated. The guy's self-conscious about his sleep patterns! I swear, as kind and good-natured as they are, people tend to forget it was a 7-man team that killed the Evil Queen!"

I stopped for a second to look at her. "I thought she died from falling off a cliff and being crushed by a boulder?"

She waved her hand. "She wouldn't have been on that cliff if the Bergmann hadn't chased her. So, I say she's an accessory to her death."

With an understanding expression, I nod. "Noted."

We manage to get to the field and parted ways, though not before Audrey gave me a kiss that lingers on my cheek and walks towards her team and me to mine.

"Yo captain!"

"Prince Ben!"

"Ben!"

"Benny Boy!"

I got all types of cheers and mock bows as I approach my team. All jokes aside, I appreciated and kinda missed them. Coach Jenkins gave me to leave when I emailed him two weeks ago, but now, judging by the almost happy looks on his face, perhaps Chad's been a bit too much for him while I was gone

"Ben! My boy!" He yells, running up and ruffling my hair. "I'm glad to see royal duties couldn't keep you away."

"Of course not," I reply cheerfully, "unless you wanna talk about giving my position to Chad so it wouldn't be an inconvenience..."

"No!" He shouts, a bit too quickly before correcting himself, "I think I'll settle for my best captain for now!

Please stay a bit longer until Tourney season is over. I can't put up with him!

That's what I heard between the lines and.. can't say I blame him. Chad's just as good as me, and is capable of good sportsmanship, but not always.


Meanwhile...

3rd POV

Long past Auradon Bay, miles long past the Strait of Ursula, lies an island of foreboding presence. Surrounded by a yellow-goldish, enchanted barrier, the island was covered with the everpresent dark clouds even on the sunniest of days, and a dark shield that even the Second Star to the Right couldn't be seen! The island's atmosphere consisted of common fear, despair, and impoverished dreariness.

The Isle of the Lost. A prison island cut off from the world, cut off from magic, and filled with the foulest, worst, and most disputable criminal offenders in all the lands.

The island began with a broken down, destroyed bridge that, once upon a time, may have connected the island to the mainland. Following there is the square, which is an open space and popular gathering for vendors, almost everything belonged to one sole territory that ruled the entire isle. From dirty anyways to overcrowded streets, warehouses used as shelters and "workplaces", houses somehow maintained in their impoverished states, streetlights blinking on and off, and yet some homes were castles and mansions - likely brought over with magic because of their residencies of villains that Auradon couldn't use or sell. The most prominent ones are Hell Hall, for example, home to Cruella De Vil. Other homes, if not the risky communal sleeping spaces, were house-store buildings held by former villains one wouldn't want to challenge or shacks hastily built before just one just choose to sleep on the streets.

With the barrier up, wi-fi and cell phone signals don't exist, but any appliances, paint, and clothes were brought in from the barges (the only open hole to the island) that docked at Goblin Wharf - manned by Goblins who understood human speech - or in dumpsters and alleys laid around and forgotten. Paints we're used for repurposing buildings while appliances, if not useful, were upcycled at best or used for spare parts at worst. The same applies to furniture. Food is a different story. Electricity is regarded as battery packs, colored bulbs or string lights, and wind steel power via burning garbage. Natural water had to be carried from mountains and hills or be treated for culinary/medical purposes, plumbing wasn't sanitary enough, and add in the foul smell of the sewage...

It wasn't an island to be proud of, but it was all they had.

In the distance amongst all this, a young lady clad in eggplant purple leather was spray-painting a battered city wall. With her purple hair, leather jacket with a decal of two dragons on the back, and tough-as-nails boots, she has trouble written all over her—which was precisely what she was going for. The bilious green spray paint out LONG LIVE EVIL written in a silhouette of a dark fairy surrounded by green flames.

And who was this nasty young lady?

Mal, daughter of Maleficent, the Evil Fairy and Unofficial ruler of the Isle of the Lost.

Mal holstered her paint can revel in her work, and stepped into the Bazaar, the eventual bustling marketplace in her mother's territory, where she was quickly swept up in the throng and blended into the sea of haggard, worn faces.

Jumping from the rooftop, a young man watches Mal vanish into the crowd as he looked out over the bazaar from the rooftop of a nearby building. Oozing confidence, he had long dark hair and biceps that bulged out of his leather vest. He smiles as his eyes glint dangerously. In several cobra-like moves, he leaps and slides down a rusty ladder from the rooftop. Behind him, LONG LIVE EVIL was spraypainted on the wall in the silhouette of a blood-red genie with yellow braces.

And this one? The thief and one of the many banes of Isle...

Jay, son of Jafar. The former sorcerer, genie, Grand Vizier, and Usurper of the Royal Throne of Agrabah.

Those who knew of Jay would say that he was dirty, no good, bad to the bone.

Spotting Jay making his way toward the street, strutting across a table, where disheveled urchins were trying to eat is Evie, daughter of Evil Queen. They ogled Evie's dazzling smile, dark wavy hair, and hypnotizing eyes. She wore all blue, with a necklace that had a red gem topped by a gold crown. She carried a red box-shaped purse. She was a natural beauty, dazzling rather, but it was hard to tell under all the makeup. Her mom had taught her that looks were everything. She glanced around only to see Jay was gone.

And last but not least, the youngest of the group, Carlos, son of Cruella De Vil, climbed out of a window and stepped into the rowdy street. Carlos was a skinny teen with white hair with black roots, and he was all decked out in a red, white, and black leather jacket and boots. As he walked through the bazaar, he stole a handkerchief and then swiped an apple from a little girl. Villagers considered him a callous, lowlife hood. And he loved them for it.

Evie and Mal emerged from a back alley in the warehouse district. Carlos races to catch up to them through a communal sleeping warehouse, stepping on awakening the poor, slumbering inhabitants while Jay climbed and steadily walked on a wooden beam before backflipping off and sliding down another rooftop building to join four friends who have united once again. They slid aside a chain-link gate and marched from warehouse to warehouse. They ran through clothes hanging on lines and banged old washing basins, causing those working there to fall, drop sacks, and re-clean clothes that had fallen.

Upon arriving at the bazaar again, Mal crept through the stalls and spray-painted an M onto a shower curtain before pulling it to reveal someone bathing.

Jay leaped and flips around the entrance of the nearby "cafe" and fake-served two customers before stealing a teapot in hand.

Evie flitted through the stalls before grabbing the scarf of a merchant and spinning him around and gifting him a flirtatious smile in a silk stall.

Carlos ran and jumped around the food marketplace, kicking up food baskets, causing havoc, and smiling mischievously before jumping on a wagon full of hay and throwing some away enraged merchant.

As they stomped out onto the filthy street, the friends struck fear and respect into the hearts of the street hawkers, pickpockets, and scam artists. They backed and scurried away at the sight of the gang. These four teens were truly rotten to the core.

And it was almost hard to believe, that only a month ago, they could never have been farther apart.

Mal snatched a lollipop out of a child's hand, and it began to cry. She held up the lollipop triumphantly. Mal's friends laughed. They were pleased with her stunt.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed in their path, and all the merchants scampered away, hiding in shops. It could only mean one thing.

Henchmen appeared and cleared the way to make room for Her Royal Wickedness, Maleficent, Mistress of Evil. Her horns were wrapped in leather and she carried a scepter, her eyes flashing green.

"Hi, Mom," said Mal with a mischievous smile.

"Stealing candy, Mal?" said Maleficent. "I'm so disappointed."

Mal scrunched up her face. "It was from a baby," she said cheerily, holding out the lollipop.

Mal's friends laughed again at just how very mean she could be.

Maleficent smiled. "That's my nasty little girl!"

Quickly, however, she snatched the lollipop from Mal's hand, spit on it, clamped it in her armpit, and handed it to one of her henchmen. "Give it back to the dreadful creature," Maleficent said, eyes gleaming.

"Mom..." Mal said, annoyed at how her mom always had to one-up her.

The henchman trotted off to return the lollipop to the mother of the baby.

"It's the deeds, Mal, that make the difference between mean and truly evil," said Maleficent. She smiled and waved to the grateful mother. She looked back at Mal. "When I was your age, I was lasting the dark arts and soon enough, cursing entire kingdoms."

"Cursing entire kingdoms!" She mouths behind her mother's back and rolls her eyes.

"Walk with me," said Maleficent, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder and guiding her forward. "See, I'm just trying to teach you the thing that counts: how to be me."

"I know that," said Mal, nodding, "and I'll do better."

"Oh! There's news," said Maleficent, whipping around. "I buried the lede!" She pointed at Mal and her friends. "You four have been chosen to go to a different school. In Auradon."

At these words, Evie, Jay, and Carlos made to bolt, only to be snatched up by Maleficent's henchmen.

Mal gawked at her mom, eyes widening.

Her friends stopped struggling against their captors.

"What?" said Mal. "Mom, you have to be joking."

"Nope!" said Maleficent. "You'll be joining the bastion of privilege and exclusivity of…Auradon Prep!"

The words left a sour-apple taste in her mouth.

"Mom! I'm not going to some boarding school filled to the brim with prissy pink princesses!" said Mal.

"And perfect princes!" said Evie dreamily as she stepped beside Mal.

Mal glared at her.

Evie's smile vanished. "Ugh!" she said, feigning a look of disgust.

"I don't do uniforms," said Jay.

"Unless it's leather. You feelin' me?" He grinned and tried to high-five a terrified Carlos, who stepped toward Maleficent.

"I read somewhere that they allow dogs in Auradon," Carlos says, his voice quivering in fear, "Mom said they're rabid pack animals who eat boys who don't behave."

Jay snuck up to Carlos and barked in his ear. Carlos practically jumped out of his fur coat, causing Jay to crack up.

"Yeah, Mom, we're not going," said Mal matter-of-factly. "You are not going to start to see me doing curtsies and book reports."

"You're thinking small, punkin'," said Maleficent. "It's all about world domination!" She licked her lips. Then she turned to her henchmen.

"Knuckleheads!" She turned on her heel, sweeping her cloak, and took off down the empty street, flanked by her devoted thugs

"Mal!" she sang over her shoulder, beckoning her daughter forth

Mal and her friends exchanged glances and follow Maleficent.


Back in Auradon...

At Auradon Prep...

Ben's POV

I should have seen this one coming...

That's the thought running through my head as my eyes ran down the entire list of names signing a petition against my royal decree.

Accurately titled: "Petition To Keep The Villain Kids OUT Of Auradon!"

This was given to me in front of the Auradon Prep School Council Meeting we had earlier today.

Flashback...

" The official Auradon Prep Student Council meeting is now in session," I announced in a spacious classroom of 15 students.

The AP Student Council was founded by the first graduating class of Auradon Prep during its first four years as a school. The students wanted a voice and this was the result - and Dad liked the idea of early politics "at its finest!"

The council was made up of the President (me), Vice President (Audrey), Secretary (Martha Weissman), Treasurer (Prince Aziz of Agrabah), Historian (Aaron Reese), and the rest of the council members were students seated at the designated seats aka desks in a larger classroom that was the unofficial meeting room whenever the council convened.

Honestly, as I looked at the 20 plus attendees today, the very idea of being class president AND King of Auradon was so daunting that I could feel sweat dripping down my pores. Technically, the Vice President didn't have to be in every council meeting, but Audrey always put up the effort to do so.

"As the order of business, Secretary Martha, please have in recount the proceedings of the last meetings."

A young girl with tan skin and mousy hair stood up and presented herself. "During our last council meeting, we discussed the Charity Carriage Wash for the Neverland Jungles, the auditions for "Whaaat's That Spell" for the Drama Department, preparations for the Auradon Knights pep rally, budgeting for certain clubs, field trip budgets for different grades, possible discussion for the school fair-"

"Excuse me!"

A voice cut in, interrupting Martha's reporting. I looked up to see a student representative raise her hand and look expectantly at me. I opened my mouth to point to her, but Audrey beat me to it

"Yes, you in the pink blouse?" Audrey called out, "Yes, you there. We're in the middle of Secretary Martha's recap, so if you have something important to say that relates to council business, please wait your turn. Please and thank you!"

"But, it does have to do with council business, Princess Audrey," the girl in the pink blouse said, putting a noticeable emphasis on 'princess', "In fact, it's a concern for the school and Prince Ben's royal decree. Oh, and my name is Aubrey!"

I shifted my eyes to Audrey, who was for all its worth, perfectly poised and respectful from her neutral-like expression with a graceful smile to her upright posture. Though anyone who didn't know her wouldn't realize that s he was obsessively tapping index to vent how ticked off she was at the council member who was lowkey snubbing her. That's another thing: If royal heirs have a seat on the council, instead of being addressed as "prince" or "princess", they're addressed as the positions they're designated under to be fair to those who aren't royals and nobles.

Or in other words, Aubrey just disrespected Audrey and her place as my VP.

Man, I hope she's not part of any noble families in Auroria.

" Proceed," I gestured.

Aubrey walked up to the center of the room and took a sophisticated stance, likely to get the council to take her seriously.

"As you all know-"

"Hold up!"

Eyes shift to Audrey, who had her hand out. "Apologise, Ms. Aubrey, but could you state your full name, occupation at school, social class, family, and the name of the region you hail from?"

If it had been any other scenario, I could see the sentence being said out of politeness.

But I knew Audrey enough to know this was far from it.

I shifted my eyes to Audrey, who was gripping her notebook tightly and outwardly glaring - trying and failing to surpass her annoyance. But she put on her best smile and presented herself.

"My name is Aubrey Schulz. I'm a Sophomore at Auradon Prep and have been attending for three years. I hail from an Upper-class family in Charmington."

I shifted my eyes back to Audrey, whose eyes were going a mile a minute until she stopped and smiles at Aubrey.

"Oh, I see. You're from Duke Müller's family. Doesnt's he governs a small town under Snow White's kingdom?" Audrey asked.

The look of surprise is hard to miss and once again, I'm shocked at my girlfriend's ability to know more about nobility than I expected.

"Oh, yes," Aubrey agrees.

Audrey nodded as if she already knew something the girl before her didn't and gestured to continue.

"So, as a fellow student at Auradon Prep, after Prince Ben's decree, there have been some... concerns of the latest news. Especially since we've been at peace for over 20 years since the villains were exiled to the Isle of the Lost."

Then, Aubrey turned to the rest of the council. "Think about it: Take away some of the villains that bear familial grudges such as Gaston Legume or Maleficent, most of us wouldn't be here if the villains did have their way! There would be chaos, anarchy, and what if they formed a League of Villains? Considering some of those on the Isle held high positions in society before they committed their crimes. It's not impossible that those who did on the Isle likely formed their government and control those criminals with major offenses."

She turned to me and changed her expression to give me a sympathetic look. "Prince Ben, considering your background and your family's history, I know more than anyone just how well-meaning your intentions can be. But after twenty years with the worst of the worst, how do you know these villain kids don't take after their parents? What if Ursula has a son who comes over and makes deals around school, leading to academic or mental health failures? What if Gaston has kids and decides he wants to become a noble and forces relationships with those to undermine you? What if Maleficent has a kid and wishes to finish where her mother started? 20 years is a long time, especially in a place as isolated as the Isle. What if it's too late and all there is to bring to Auradon is in trouble? We, not only nobles but civilians as well, have suffered under villainous regimes and may have been forced to act along with them in means of survival!"

She walks up to me and shows me a long list filled with numerous names that gave me the idea I'm gonna have to look through after the meeting.

"Here's a list filled with names of various students who disagree with your decree want to petition against bringing Isle kids to Auradon. It would be greatly appreciated if you could take the best interests of those who go here and study seriously who just want to finish the year or graduate without any major consequences."

She smiled sincerely but her phrasing on the last part almost sounded like a threat. I reached for the petition but Audrey beat me to it and practically snatched it from her hand before eloquently handing it to me.

She gives a more trained, sincere smile and said "I appreciate your concerns for the school, Ms. Schulz. President Ben will review your petition after the meeting concludes and get back to you as soon as possible."

Tell someone to back off without saying "Back off!" and Audrey nailed it.

I looked at the list again and reiterate: I'll be here until after dinner.

Flashback ends...

The more I looked down the list of names, the more I'm finding myself impressed with how many students signed up (which demonstrates someone knowing how democracy works) and feeling a bit bad when I have to burst their bubbles by revealing no amount of petitioning can overrule a royal decree.

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

"Come in!"

I lift my head to see Audrey walk in with a small basket in hand. The smell of Meatloaf Surprise wafts through the room and my mouth salivates at the aroma.

"I noticed you weren't at dinner," she says, waving the small basket in her hand.

I looked at the clock and realize how late it was.

"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly, "I just have a lot of work to do. Including how to let the mass down gently that royal decrees can't be undone so easily by petitions."

I gestured to the long list in front of me and saw Audrey crinkle her nose at it.

So adorable.

"They're gonna lose," Audrey states as she walked. over to me. "They haven't even built up their arguments and reasons why they're against it. Names help, but not without proof or evidence. Not to mention, their petition is against other kids possibly our age coming over. Now, if it had been about the Villains like Maleficent or Gaston, now we could see where they were coming from as if your decree had been talking about freeing those who are guilty. But it's not, the decree is out their kids who grew up far away from potentially basic health and resources and haven't been found guilty of anything but their parents' crimes. it's like being given a basket of apples and assuming all of them are poisoned by The Evil Queen!"

Yes! Exactly! Audrey took the words right from my mouth and couldn't have said it any better!

"They're judging before they even know them," I agree, "and I didn't think the prejudice would be so bad before anything has begun."

Then Audrey grits her teeth in annoyance. "I can't believe that upstart noble from Charmington thought she could petition your decree!"

I raised my eyebrow. "Upstart?"

"The Muller Famly's one of those families whose well known but not particularly special. They've only become a noble family a few years ago because of a good deed and a debt of gratitude. Now, I'm not judging because a few families have started like that, but Chad complained about it being nothing worth noting to be given the title," she explains.

"I'm surprised you're not complaining about her name mean one-off from sounding like yours," I quip.

"There are worst things I can be petty about."

My lips quivered trying to stop a smile from reaching from ear to ear.

"So, you have good ideas. What do I do with the petition?" I ask.

"What did you have in mind?" she counters. I sighed and leaned back in my seat.

"I could send an email to everyone on the petition that politely rejects the proposal, but that's time-consuming and cowardly. Aubrey might not be as good as us, but she brought up some valid concerns," I remark.

"It's a fair assessment, which I think I voiced when you first told me your decree," Audrey reasons, "all those years in a place like that with a general lack of good resources are bound to leave some kind of effect. And let's remember the fact that those kids were born there, so for all intents and purposes, it's normal for them. Just the very idea of surviving a day in that place makes my skin crawl!"

I couldn't help but agree as I grabbed the small basket that held tonight's dinner.

"I suggest you recall the council meeting and summon Aubrey those who signed the petition to deny their petition and explain why. It's only fair that something like this is treated a bit delicately," she suggests.

"Has your dad done something like this? Mine just proclaims his decision throughout the entire room and believes everyone adheres to it," I say before taking a bite of the meatloaf. I moan in delight as the egg yolk and beef melt in my mouth!

"Yes, especially if it's a creation for a new law that has more negative impacts. Some have tried to sneak ones past him that look promising, but somehow he sees them for what they are. Well, either he knows or Mom helps him. I think he wants me to believe the former just so he can seem almighty powerful and wise around me," she laughs.

I couldn't help but curl my lips at the sound of that.

"By the way, I meant to ask. What do you think of the School of Secrets feed? " I question. "I'm considering looking into it myself."

"Look in or confront the person behind it?" she inquires with a raised eyebrow. "Ben, you and I both know who the narrator behind the web feed is! If not her clothes, then it's her voice."

"I don't know," I admitted, finishing off the meatloaf, "but it did make finding out what the students talk about much easier."

She gave me a look. "If that was the case, there'd either be more cameras or more videos. Honestly, she's avoiding me because she knows I will grill her over the last one!

"If that's the case, why don't you turn her in?"

There was a moment of silence, almost making me think Audrey had to choose her words carefully. I don't know why, but I guess she didn't want to also feel like an instigator.

Finally, she spoke "Just because we disapprove doesn't mean we can't use advantages. The main thing is finding out what table she uses for the videos otherwise I'd just request she'd send us an early warning before every post. I swear, she's her mother's daughter yet she isn't completely stealthy as she thinks."

Sometime after that, Audrey left and I was going through the list one more time and decided to follow Audrey's suggestion. If I was being honest, he was curious to see how they'd react.


The next morning...

3rd POV

Ben woke up early in his dorm to prepare for the day. He had sent out emails to council members & those who signed the petition to come to meet him in the same classroom as yesterday. He spent a good chunk of the night trying to phrase in his speech how to deny the petition and he felt he had a great run going.

Until a message appeared on his phone.

You got a storm coming your way. Check the school website . - Audrey

Under it was a link and once I clicked, Ben realized School of Secrets just had a recent upload.

The title? "Talk".

I clicked on the link and the newest episode resumes:

(Two faceless girls are sitting at the table. One is wearing a blue dress with a pink bow reading a book. Ji The other can be seen wearing a pink skirt.)

(The latter's phone buzzes and she answers it. Text appears on the screen.)

[IN BLUE: Villain kids at Auradon, huh?

[IN YELLOW: This could be interesting.]

[IN BLUE: I wonder how everyone's taking the news?]

Girl 1: (seen wearing an AP cheer uniform) What if they can breathe fire? Or turn people into toads?

Girl 2: Don't be silly. Everyone knows magic is outlawed.

Girl 1: Hello? That's exactly what they are: Outlaws.

Guy 1: Maybe they're just like us. It's their parents or the bad ones.

Guy 2: Did you know one of them made my uncle walk the plank!? (shows cutthroat motion)

Guy 1: (moves away)

Girl 1: (laughs sympathetically) Sorry. He's new here.

[Girl dressed in a pink dress and white cardigan appears with an own and paper in hand.]

Girl 3: Petition to keep the villain kids out of Auradon Prep.

Girl 1: Wait, can you petition a royal decree?

Girl 3: Don't know. Got a D in Kingdom Civics, but I do know I don't want any villain kids in Auradon.

[Girl 1 takes the petition and signs her name before handing it to Girl 2.]

Smack talking in secret? That's harsh. Not like 'prick your finger on a single and curse to sleep for a thousand years' harsh, But still, Auradon Prep is about to get interesting and just wait until our parents find out!

Be Good, Auradon. Someone's watching.)

Okay, this changes everything, Ben thinks after the video turns dark.

Not only is Aubrey seen on the tape starting her petition, but it makes her standing look weak and very biased behind her petition.

Ben is usually a positive guy, but he has to thank whoever runs SoS for giving him this remarkable information!