Hey guys! I actually updated at a relatively normal time this time, like a normal person, haha. ;) I hope the wait wasn't too long for you. Anyway, let's get right into it shall we?

tigerladygamer: Lol, I live on the east coast of the States. Sorry about that timing. But if I didn't have restrictions like work and school and 'responsible adulthood' (whatever that it) I'd probably stay up till 3 am writing every day! ;)

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter so much. We will definitely be getting into more of Isle life for the VKs, and don't worry, Mal will be back and terrorizing people before you know it! I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!

Sand-wolf579: Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter so much and that you're enjoying the way I'm portraying everyone. Chad is definitely a complicated character, and I did my best to treat him as such. And yeah, I kind of figured that being stuck as an out of control beast for ten years would leave some side effects, lol. And I'm really glad you enjoyed my inclusion/portrayal of Uma, Harry and Gil. I wasn't sure if I should include them or not or how people would react to them, but I'm glad you enjoyed my little snippet of Sea Three, and I hope you will continue to follow along and enjoy! :)

GuestWhoLovesYou: Hi, it's good to hear from you again. I'm glad you're enjoying my story so far. Don't worry I don't intend to stop writing anytime soon! As for your question, no I haven't yet explained how Evie (or the other VKs) got their injuries at the beginning of the story, but I am in the process of outlining that flash back and plan to elaborate on it soon. And I'm glad you liked my interpretation of the AKs' issues. You're right, no life is truly perfect, and I definitely wanted to highlight that in this story.

As for all your questions, well…I hate to be 'that person' lol, but for the most part they'll all be answered in the story so keep reading! Haha, um, but I'm glad you like how I'm portraying all the characters. I definitely didn't want to dismiss the fact that these guys are all people with feelings, and I wanted to highlight the Ben/Audrey/Chad dynamic to make things that much more real. And I love the VK formations too, lol. The eye contact thing I'll be elaborating on, but for the most part it's equal parts a respect issue and a fear issue as, depending on just who and how you made eye contact with on the Isle it would lead to trouble.

And regarding Evie, yes I will definitely be including more of her and will be clarifying things with flashbacks, etc. I'm definitely in a better place than I was before, but certain things can be hard writing when it hits so close to home. But thank you so much for your words of encouragement, it really means a lot to me. I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! :)

manticore-gurl071134: Thank you for the review! I hope they can change his mind too, honestly, haha. ;) It will take some convincing, that's for sure. But I hope you will continue to follow along and enjoy.

Royal One: Haha, yeah, I'm sorry about that. With all the conflict revolving around Aziz and Nikki, I figured I might as well continue torturing Jay as a counterpoint, lol. And yeah, it's gonna be quiet messy when Jay's past is revealed. All the VKs, really, but definitely Jay, considering all the aforementioned conflict.

And I'm glad you liked my portrayal of King Beast's anger issues. :) It was something I head-canoned long before Descendants; actually going back to original Beauty and the Beast, lol, and I was kind of really looking forward to seeing how Descendants took that on, and was extremely pleased to see that they implied that there as well. Plus I also recently purchased the book, and it's actually implied in there too, haha, so that was a fun little tangent I was pleased to discover.

And we will get the rest of that flashback, don't worry. But yes, I didn't make the timeline clear, sorry. That one with the pirates was before Evie and Carlos, so it's just Mal to the rescue. ;) I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!

Nyehhhh: I'm glad you love this story so much, thank you! :) I hope you'll keep reading and enjoying!

chrono-contract: I'm so glad you loved this chapter! And you are very welcome, lol. I'll definitely be including some more of the Sea-Three so hopefully you'll continue to read and enjoy.

Gracfully: I'm glad you thought it was interesting. :) Yep, that flashback was back when the VKs were younger, before Auradon. I hope you'll keep reading and enjoying!

EvietoyourMal; Haha, yeah…I'm a bit of an intense sort of writer. I tend to get really into the dark/nitty gritty of things so it's definitely going to be pretty emotionally charged for a bit. There will be some more triggering and angst and suffering before things get better (cuz I'm evil that way) but it will get better, I promise! And yes, there will be more Mal/Uma rivalry, don't you worry. Haha, I hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy!

Guest 1: Me alegro de que disfrutes mucho mi historia. Definitivamente tengo planes para Ben y Mal, no te preocupes. Por supuesto, voy a poner mi propio pequeño giro en él, pero habrá Ben y Mal. ;)

lpsNerdz: Hey, welcome to the party! It's ok if you're late, I'm happy to have you. And yes, it was an MCR reference, haha. There may or not be some other MCR sprinkled about too, lol. ;) I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!

Indian Sunset: Hi, welcome to the story and thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying everything so far and that you think I'm doing a good job keeping things realistic. It's definitely something I really wanted to strive for with this story and avoid all that Disney sugar coating.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy my inclusion of the Sea-Three, but if it helps any, they're only going to make extremely rare appearances throughout, haha. My main focus is on the VKs (our core four) just wanted to add them as a counterpoint/for added backstory. Regardless, I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! :)

Jewelz1642: I'm so glad you enjoyed this and thought it was so good. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed my involvement of the Sea-Three, and that you liked my subtle shipping, lol. I hope you will continue to read and enjoy!

Tiredandlazy: Oh how I wish you had a profile so I could rant in PM without spoiling, lol. Well I'll do my best. In terms of your mystery, it will not remain unsolved. I've actually already been laying the clues, and your review inspired another set that I added in to the plot. So. I would say go back and review some of my Carlos flashbacks, as I've hinted at some other stuff there. It's like the game Clue, you have all the characters, you just need to figure out whodunnit. ;)

And yeah, haha, it might seem a bit weird or whatever to get so excited about a review on a random work of fanfiction, but it's true. You and a couple others, I always get really excited and look forward to updating, just so I can read your reviews and see what you think.

So yes, on to the chapter. I'm glad you love Belle and Beast's argument, lol. That was fun and intense to write. Belle is definitely a boss ass bitch, haha and she's takin' none of his shit so no worries there. ;) And don't worry, Chad's softness will start to show just a tiny bit more, he's just gonna try and save face and keep up his act for as long as he can. Lonnie and Mal will get their bit of interaction, and we'll get some more into Aziz and Nikki and a peek into some more abuse/backstory.

And I'm really glad you liked my take on Uma vs. Mal and my portrayal of Gil. Yeah, he really is just not cut out for the Isle life, and I'll be highlighting some of that a little more later on. Anyway, I hope you will continue to read and enjoy and I look forward to hearing what you think! :)

MikaToshino: Welcome to the story and thank you for leaving a review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much and I hope you'll continue to enjoy.

HannahWilliam33: Welcome to the story and thank you so much for the kind words. I'm glad you loved the way I wrote Harry, Gil and Uma, haha. The Beast really doesn't have place to judge, and I'll be digging into all of the backstory and people will be finding out shortly so that will be fun. ;) I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy.

kagome higurashi: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying this story so much and I hope you will continue to read and enjoy.

Author's Notes:

Ok guys, everyone's favorite part, haha. The warnings for this chapter are brief but important so please don't skip!

***Warnings for this chapter include the usual, language, mentions and implications of child abuse/neglect, mentions of death and blood in a joking setting, and mentions/implications of dysfunctional families.***

Further disclaimer, this chapter also contains homophobia/homophobic language, and crude insults/slurs. THE VIEWS EXRESSED IN THIS CHAPTER DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR. Just wanted to make that clear. This was really rough to write, guys, and I can not stress enough to my readers that I am sorry for the crudeness, and again, that any such comments will be deleted.

Note 2:

That being said, this chapter also contains a POV shift, and a flashback. Bit of clarification for you guys, the flashback is covering events from Chapters 19 and 20, and the POV immediately following picks up back in the present day. :)

I hope you guys enjoy and I look forward to hearing what you think!

-Raven

Audrey

There are many places within and outside the states of Auradon that one could find Audrey on any given day. If she wasn't at the school, then she typically journeyed to Auradon City for an impromptu (and usually much needed and well deserved) shopping trip. Spring Break usually found her, along with most of their friends, traveling with Chad back home to Charmington to make sure he stayed relatively sane while facing the usual chaos and fuss that tended to be kicked up around that time (and of course, vehemently denying that that was why they came it was just that Cinderellasburg was so much prettier than Auradon in the Spring!) Then Summer Break, which found her with Ben and his family and vacationing in the Summerlands. (She swears the location must have been Ben's idea, and chosen purely for the irony of the name as the Summerlands were mostly forest and it was impossible to find a good resort within a fifty mile radius.) Back to Auradon and the Academy in the fall, and when winter started, up north a bit to Camelot for a quick visit with her Aunts before journeying back down for Christmas with Ben in Auradon.

The routine had mostly petered out a bit as time wore on (less trips with Chad as he resolutely shoved everyone away when it became apparent that things with his mother weren't going away); and less frequent trips to Camelot as their medieval ways also refused to evolve. However the one thing that remained constant was that Audrey hardly journeyed farther south than Auradon Castle; certainly didn't crossed that border into South Riding; wouldn't dream of stepping foot in Auroria or any of the three castles there.

Not unless she wanted to step into what she was currently already in:

"I thought we agreed that the South Castle would be mine for the fall."

Her father's voice, a rare one to behold at any point in her life since the divorce.

"I don't recall ever agreeing to such terms. You probably made it up on the spot to humiliate me."

The divorce which, unsurprisingly enough in Audrey's opinion, had been initiated by her mother. And which was always painstakingly rehashed…by both of them.

"Don't blame me for that, it seems you're doing just fine on your own."

"Little thanks to you! What do want now; to try and claim the East Castle as well?"

Audrey didn't hear much past her mother's last accusation, as their voices moved farther away and deeper into the house, which left her hovering in the parlor clutching her purse and furiously texting Lonnie for tips on how not to kill someone. Or at the very least, creative ways to not get caught.

"…can't come and visit…?" and "Seems more than excessive." and "Well that's what I get I suppose for marrying someone I barely knew!" and "What else would you want me to be for you? What, was saving you and your whole kingdom not enough!" and so on, and so forth, ad nauseum.

Her phone buzzes in her palm and she clicks through the various screens until she reaches her messages.

{Warrior Princess: How do you feel about blood?}

Audrey stifles her amused, albeit nervous chuckle and quickly types back, glancing up every now and then to keep an ear on the pace of the argument.

{Not particularly fond…it doesn't come out of clothes!}

Something thuds from a few rooms over, an indignant screech following soon after. Audrey bites her lip and idly debates over if it had been that lifelike bust of her father that had gone this time, or if it had been one of her mother's miniature glass roses.

{Warrior Princess: True, forgot how much you love your dresses. I was gonna suggest dismembering the corpse for easier removal, but I guess that's out.}

Glass smashes, and Audrey snickers to herself at Lonnie's message.

{Who's to say there wouldn't be two bodies?} She counters, and hangs her purse over one of the velvet chairs. Clearly, this one was going to take a while.

{Warrior Princess: Ok…two is harder, but I could probably still work something out.}

{I could always burn them.} Audrey muses, and Lonnie sends a laughing emoji in response.

{Warrior Princess: Burning's for amateurs! We're going for subtly professional here, duh.}

{Of course.} Audrey texts back, barking a laugh of her own. {Because we've both killed tons of people and therefore count as qualified 'professionals.'}

She sends a winking face emoji of her own and waits, but a minute goes by with no response. The rest of the house is silent as well, though she can still hear the murmur of angry voices from somewhere. At least they weren't yelling, and nothing else had broken. Audrey pegged it at about five more minutes or so of the quiet debating before the coast would be clear enough to walk back through the front door.

In the space between texts and furious, muffled arguing, Audrey did a quick search of the AuraWeb for some other ideas. Lighting on one that sounded promising, she switches back over to messaging and texts Lonnie again.

{So, I found this one thing on an AuraWeb article that said that if I wear different sized shoes, I could cover my own footprints. And then there's another whole section just about fashioning murder weapons! Do you think I could make some kind of poison gas from my makeup?}

Lonnie texted back before she'd even finished, her text punctuated with alternating angry and crying emojis.

{Warrior Princess: Ancestors above, Audrey, do you not think!? Now they have your trail and know what you've been searching!}

Audrey blushes guiltily for making Lonnie so upset, and vaguely notes that all the arguing seems to have stopped from the next room.

{Sorry, didn't realize you were so into this…}

{Warrior Princess: Are you kidding me? I've literally been deleting every message since the start of this conversation.}

{Lol!}

{Warrior Princess: I don't intend to go down for this, Drey. If we're taking someone out, we're doing it right or not at all.}

Audrey chuckles quietly, grinning widely as she texts back. {So dedicated, Lonnie, haha! It's not like you've ever actually done something like this before though.}

A much longer beat of silence this time, and Audrey idly scoops up her purse and makes her way back to the front door. It hadn't quite been five minutes, and she's taking it as a good sign for the conversation that's about to take place. Lonnie still hadn't texted back by the time she reaches the door, and she frowns carefully, texting the other girl again.

{Right?} She texts, when her friend still hadn't responded. {Lonnie?}

{Warrior Princess: Haha, right.…..} And a rather shifty looking smiling face emoji that has Audrey feeling genuinely worried for some reason.

{I have to go.} She texts, feeling a pang of regret as she types. {But this conversation is not over. We will be discussing your murderous tendencies later.}

{Warrior Princess: K. I'll just sit here and keep watching over an unconscious girl…like that isn't creepy at all.}

Audrey freezes with her hand halfway to the door handle, staring at her screen uncomprehendingly. Instinct has her panicking and all set to spiral as she thinks on her own family's experiences with unconscious girls and the after effects of supposed 'happy endings.' Finally, her mind starts to work again and she rereads the message. Then she blinks, her tongue clicking against her teeth as she inhales sharply.

{Wait. WHAT?!}

{Warrior Princess: Gottagoexplainlaternotunconsiousanymoreandithinkimightdie.}

And with that, Lonnie leaves the messaging app, and Audrey slumps a little against the doorframe, suddenly at a loss as to what was going on. She's reminded, when a door closes sharply down the hall, and she straightens quickly, opening the front door and closing it hard and with intent before plastering a smile on her face.

"Hi," she calls loudly, stepping back through the parlor and sliding her phone into the pockets of her dress. "Mom? I just thought I'd…"

Her voice tapers off as her father rounds the corner, and Philip's tight, haggard expression instantly melts. "Princess," he sighs, and Audrey all but falls into his arms.

"Hi Daddy," she mumbles into the silk of his suit, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't at least moderately thrilled to see him.

"It's good to see you sweetheart," he whispers in her ear before pulling away. "But what are you doing back home? Don't you have school? Or…" his tanned face screws in thought before his eyes return to hers. "Is it already break?"

Audrey sighs fondly and shakes her head, stepping reluctantly out of his embrace. "No, it's not. School's still on, I just wanted to…."

"Didn't I tell you to leave?" her mother's voice cuts in sharply from the direction of the sitting room. "I don't hear you leaving!"

"Guess who's here, Rose?" Her father calls back in response, and Audrey can't help but wince slightly at the pet name.

Rose was Audrey's middle name; a token reminder of a time when things were so much simpler between her parents. When all that really mattered was a half-remembered song and a secret waltz through a forest. Hearing it again now, after so much time apart from that; after the two people who had once shared that waltz had disappeared forever…it wasn't something that Audrey particularly cherished. Especially with the way her father said it; like it was an accusation: a forced reminder of exactly what had changed between them.

"Audrey," her mother gasps, and the sound is equal parts joy and anguish. "I didn't think you'd be back until…."

"It's a surprise visit," Audrey blurts, not moving from the space between her father and the carpet that lined the mansion's entrance. "I just had some questions about things that have been going on at school and thought talking in person would be best, so…."

She's rambling, and she clamps down on it sharply, trying to smile despite the way her throat feels like a stone is lodged inside and her stomach twists into a thorny mess.

"Of course," her father says cheerily, clapping a warm but overly familiar hand around her shoulder. "We're always here for you, pumpkin."

Her mother sniffs pointedly, and her father shoots her a filthy look and Audrey is all set to start hiding away anything remotely valuable when her mother cracks, and smiles.

"Of course," she repeats, and gestures grandly towards the back of the house and in the general direction of the open kitchen space. "Let's all sit and you can share."

And so then it shifts; from "Oh, how are you dear?" and "Can't believe how grown up you are" ("Of course you can't, you've only been gone five years.") and ("Who's fault is that, though Rose?") and tight looks that say Not In Front of Audrey and right back into "Heard about that decree, nasty business bringing villains into Auradon" and "Certainly hope you're staying well away from those heathens" and "Half a mind to pull you out of there" and ("So she can do what? Spend time with you?") and ("Must be better than spending it with you") and Not In Front of Audrey; so by the time they finally reach the kitchen, it's as if they'd done so by wading through a trench of fire.

Her father pulls a chair out for her and Audrey slumps into it weakly before remembering and straightens into a far more princess appropriate pose. She's still so tired of all of this though, and she watches her father approach his own chair; watches as the disregard in his body shifts as his eyes meet hers, and he turns and extends another chair for her mother. He doesn't push it in for her though once she's seated, and Audrey watches as her mother scoots herself closer, an expression of tightly concealed disdain on her face.

"Now then," her mother starts to say, before her father interrupts, tenting his fingers like this is a business meeting instead of family. (However loosely it fit.)

"So just which villains did they end up choosing?" he asks abruptly, and Audrey blinks a moment, caught off guard.

"Why...It doesn't really matter, though, does it?" She counters carefully, simultaneously pondering why she was protecting the VKs (protecting Mal, a small part of her traitorously whispers.)

"Well clearly it matters to you," her mother replies, and at Audrey's wondering look. "I'm your mother, it's my job to know these things."

Her father swallows a scoff and nearly chokes, but her mother pointedly ignores him.

"You're here now," she continues with a small shrug. "You might as well tell us everything so we can help."

We, Audrey notes. But really just one of you, because you won't let Dad do anything, and he won't let you do anything either, which is exactly what I'm afraid of.

"It's not really about them at all," Audrey lies expertly, feigning her own disinterest with a perfect roll of her eyes. "They sneak around the school and go to class when they feel like it, so no one sees them. Ben thinks that defeats the point of them being here, but honestly, I'm not complaining."

Both of her parents relax minutely at that, and Audrey feels her worry increasing. This wasn't going to work. This was a terrible idea and she should never have come here she knew better than to come home why was she here?

"So then what's up buttercup?"

Her mother huffs at her father's classic 'Dad' ness, but Audrey finds a small bit of relief in it all the same. She should try and utilize him over her mother, if she was being brutally honest. He would hold more weight with the Counsel, being a Prince, and his instinctive nature was always to rush headlong against something he felt was wrong (or into whatever he thought was right), regardless of rational thought. She lets her worry and fear about it all show on her face and instantly sees the way he shifts his weight so he's leaning more into her; all set to be pointed in the right direction.

"Well, aside from the villains, (the stress was purely for her mother's benefit, but it helps get the older Princess more engaged) there are some other new kids to the school as well, and no one really knows much about them either. Which of course, has Ben worried because there's nothing he can't figure out about a person, you know?"

"Just like Belle," her mother comments, but she's listening, which was more than Audrey could hope for.

"Yeah," she continues, taking another slow breath. "So everyone's trying to figure out who these kids are and about their background and…well with some of the things that were noticed we weren't sure if…" she pauses her rambling and decides after a quick look at her father's concerned face to just be blunt.

"What do you do if you suspect that someone's in a not-so-great situation?"

"Well you'll have to be more specific than that," her mother intones, but Audrey can hear the undercurrent of doubt in her voice that she latches on to instantly.

"Ok," Audrey agrees, and glances to her father again. "What do you if you think someone is being abused? How do you prove it, and keep them from having to go back to it?"

Her father blanches ever so slightly, though quickly recovers and instantly snaps into the hero mode that Audrey had secretly been hoping for.

"Well first of all, you'd need to establish just what sort of support system you have to work with," her father's voice is soothing, but intense in his confidence; in his ability to make at least this better. "They need a safe place; somewhere, or even someone to go to that's solely theirs."

Audrey wasn't sure how they'd manage that; she was almost positive that the VKs' 'safe place' was each other. She says as much, leaving out specifics, but her father nods.

"That's fine," he says. "Make sure to set up a physical place for them as well, and make it clear that it's theirs and no one else will come into it without their permission, or bother them while they're there."

She makes a mental note of it and nods for her father to continue. Her purses his lips thoughtfully, then folds his hands from their tent before speaking.

"I'm assuming you've already figured out or have an idea of the type of abuse they might have gone through?"

She blinks, and tries to remember what Doug had mentioned. "We aren't sure," she finally admits slowly. "Just that we've noticed a lot of bruises, and the way they always sort of flinch away whenever anyone gets too close or talks too loud, even if we're excited."

"Well it's a start, at least," her father murmurs. "Of course therapy and talking about it would help much more than just a safe place."

Audrey thinks of the VKs (and more specifically, Carlos) and makes a face, shaking her head. "I don't know how well talking about it would go. They're pretty closed off."

Although they had been opening up more, and Jay had formed a decent enough bond with Aziz before things had gone south. Carlos and Jane, too had connected. There was hope, just not enough of it.

"I guess then the best bet is to just start with the safe space," her father says then. "That should help with getting them to open up, and from there, you can approach therapy once everyone is ready and comfortable."

"What I want to know," her mother speaks for the first time. "Is just who these children are, and why you care so much? More importantly, why you think we should care?"

"Well you certainly don't miss a thing, do you?" her father mutters, and Audrey can't help but think the same thing.

"We care," Audrey begins, but then her mother interrupts, seizing on that.

"And you do keep saying that: 'we.' Who's 'we?'"

"Me, for one," Audrey sighs, and her father gives her a knowing look out of the corner of his eyes. "Ben, of course. Doug, Lonnie, Jane and Chad." (And maybe Aziz and Nikki, if they come around to the idea at all)

"Hm, and I guess it's no surprise at least that Chad's a part of it, given the whole Cinderella fiasco."

Audrey presses her lips tightly together and says nothing, (which took a lot of self-control and she deserves that credit thank you very much) and her mother takes her silence as confirmation and permission to continue.

"And I suppose the reason you came to us, is because you think we'd be able to say something at the next meeting. Argue to let these children stay somewhere other than in an abusive situation?"

"Ideally, yes," Audrey says tightly. "That's the plan, anyway."

"You aren't seriously suggesting we do otherwise…?"

"I'm suggesting we need more information before we decide on anything."

Her mother says 'we' but talks as if her father had never sat down at the table. It's a royal we if anything, and Audrey would have laughed at that if she weren't mentally reminding herself that blood wouldn't wash out of her dress and that any other option would be too amateur for Lonnie to approve of.

"Well I'll see what I can find out," Audrey finally says, and she stands from her chair before she can change her mind. "I'll write."

"You can call," her father chimes in, almost a plea, and Audrey quickly presses a kiss to her mother's cheek before she can fire a retort.

"I'll keep in touch," she says, the most she can promise either of them right now.

"Just make sure you're careful around those villains," her mother calls after her.

"Really, Aurora," her father's voice follows her to the door, heavy and weary all at once. "She can make her own decisions you know."

(And) "Yes I do know, I'm the one who stuck around."

(And) "Not like you left me any choice."

(And) "Plenty of choices, you just decided not to be the hero this time!"

(And) "Don't know why I didn't stop to think that day in the forest. I mean, what girl sings alone in the woods?"

(And) "Last time I checked you found it endearing!"

(And Not In Front of Audrey! doesn't matter anymore because she's already gone, sprinting down the drive and all but throwing herself at the doors of the car that had been waiting on the other side of the bridge.)

Lonnie

Of all the ideas for a fun time on a Friday evening, sitting in a high-backed plastic chair and watching an unconscious villain kid sleep wasn't exactly on Lonnie's list. Although, Audrey's extremely entertaining messages were certainly making the situation a little less weird. It wasn't that Lonnie felt unsafe being this close to Mal, even with the other girl's current state (or, lack of) awareness. She wouldn't have volunteered so hastily otherwise. If anything, Lonnie was absolutely thrilled at the idea; of the chance to dispel some of her own grand views of the VKs and get to know them.

But there wasn't much getting to know at the moment. An IV was attached to Mal's arm, clear liquid dripping steadily down the shallow tube. The Fairy Godmother had seemed surprised, but hadn't protested when she'd walked in and seen Lonnie in the midst of dragging a chair closer to the bed. Instead she sighed and gave a quick, tight smile, before going about a brief explanation of what she was doing and what Lonnie should do if x.y.z happened.

Lonnie eyed the monitor, noting its still even beat, and stifled a short laugh as she read Audrey's latest text. She didn't envy the other girl her position; regretted, in fact, that her friend still had to put up with all the drama her parents kicked up. But she also recognized and respected Audrey's determination to fight against the powers that be, especially when she knew the other girl didn't exactly disagree with said powers. Lonnie, on the other hand, didn't really need much of an excuse to fight. There was an injustice happening here, and as long as she had the opportunity then by all the ancestors she was going to do something about it!

The VKs didn't get enough to eat. They didn't get enough sunlight. Or water. Clothes they did possess, but really, Lonnie thought, eyeing the fraying threads in Mal's jeans. Define 'clothes.' The Fairy Godmother, along with Merry, Flo and Faun, had gone almost as pale as Mal as the various results from whatever tests they had done started popping up. They'd fluttered anxiously and whispered together before the Fairy Godmother had decided she needed to make some 'calls;' with all the secretive importance emphasized, before leaving Lonnie unceremoniously 'in charge.'

And so, Lonnie sat and watched Mal's chest rise and fall, eyed the green straps secured around her wrists and ankles, counted how long until the next beep of the monitor. As a game, Lonnie decided to try an exercise her parents had often tried to teach her when she was younger, but never quite had the patience to master. She waited, scrutinizing Mal's breathing a bit more before slowly releasing her own breath and drawing it back in as Mal's chest rose. She was off by a beat of the monitor, so she exhaled slowly and did it again. And again. Until she was barely half a beat off and pretty proud of herself.

She slowly drew her phone from her pocket, still careful of her breath control, and loses when she snorts softly at Audrey's latest text.

{A Rose with Thorns: So dedicated, Lonnie, haha! It's not like you've ever actually done something like this before though.}

Lonnie barely contains her laugh so it comes out more like a heavy puff of air instead of the louder outburst it wants to be. Sure she'd never killed a person before, but her dad liked his hunting trips as much as the next 'modern man,' and even her mom had done her fair share when it came to the nitty gritty of all that such activities required. Many a family vacation consisted of hunting tours disguised as camping trips for the more faint-hearted Auradonians; with Lonnie and her dad going out with weapons drawn and blazing, while her mom scouted their ideal territory and defended it until they got back.

Not to mention of course, the various and mass amount of weapons training that had been engrained in her since she'd turned two. So yes, Lonnie was more than proficient enough to be giving Audrey all the advice she desired.

{A Rose with Thorns: Right? Lonnie?}

{Haha, right…}

And of course, having fun and scaring her just a little bit. Lonnie smirked to herself as she sent the corresponding emoji with the text, effectively giving up on the game of matching her breathing to Mal's as she laughed softly with Audrey's next message; the other girl promising that their discussion was far from over. The bit about Lonnie supposedly having 'murderous tendencies' was just an added bonus in her opinion.

She cast a quick eye back over to Mal as she responded, frowning at the monitor as it seemed to skip a beat before resuming. If the beats were just a tad more rhythmic than their previous steady pace, Lonnie only registered it subconsciously. Consciously, she was debating if her quip to Audrey about watching unconscious girls sleeping being creepy had been in poor taste. But she didn't have much time to debate for long, as the monitor spiked sharply, just as a harsh gasp slipped past Mal's lips.

Instantly, Lonnie was alert, letting her own sharp intake of breath fall in line with Mal's next exhale, her fingers flying over the screen of her phone and producing a massive, barely legible run-on for Audrey to interpret.

{Gottagoexplainlaternotunconsiousanymoreandithinkimightdie.}

She'd hit Send and slipped her phone back into her pocket before Mal had managed another breath, which was really saying something since Lonnie was now actively working to get her own breath back under control. It wasn't quite a game anymore now, though Lonnie wasn't sure yet if she'd truly meant it when she'd said she thought she might die. She eyed the red button beside the monitor to her left; the promise that the Fairy Godmother had left that they would be there right away as soon as she pressed it giving her enough confidence to relax minutely from her tense pose.

As she did, Mal's eyes flickered open, and Lonnie felt a chill at the fire she could see burning in the green within. Then the other girl spoke, and she had another reason to be more concerned.

"Who are you, and why are you still alive?"

Despite being unconscious for almost three hours, Mal's voice, while raspy, held an impossible crackle of power. Instinct and pride kicked in, and Lonnie straightened in her chair, lifting her chin slightly.

"Lonnie, daughter of Fa Mulan and Li Shang," she announces with all the dignity those house names require. "And, as for why I'm not dead, well, it could have something to do with my being assigned to watch over you."

"Great," Mal snaps, the fire dimming from her eyes and leaving a much more natural usual green. "So I guess you're my warden, then?"

Lonnie blinks, relaxing from her stiff posture slowly and making sure her hands were still in her lap.

"Not necessarily," she replies. "I just thought I'd keep you company, and you know, be a friendly face when you finally woke up."

Mal scoffs through her nose, her eyes narrowing at the ceiling. "There's no such thing. And anyway, I don't need 'friendly.' What I need is for you to tell me where the rest of my group is, and then leave before I change my mind about keeping you alive."

Lonnie can't help it. She laughs, chuckling softly while something inside her soars gleefully. She'd finally found someone else who shared her own (admittedly vaguely morbid) sense of humor. She wasn't about to pass this up for anything!

"What part of anything I just said did you not get?" Mal says, frowning, and Lonnie shakes her head quickly, stifling her laughter with difficulty.

"No, I'm sorry," she says, still grinning broadly. "It's just, you're so me!"

Mal doesn't seem to know what to say to that, judging by the way her face screws up. Or rather, Lonnie suspects, she was just trying to think of the right curses to use.

"But, to answer your question, the last I saw, Evie Jay and Carlos were together and in the dorms," Lonnie continues, and Mal seems to relax at that, though it's impossible to say for sure as the other girl still seems kind of tense.

"Well that's good to hear," Mal mutters, before laughing herself. "Never thought I'd say 'good' and mean it like that before."

Lonnie smiles a bit, and is all set to make a joke of her own when Mal continues.

"So…guessing by the fact that I can't move and also happen to be in the infirmary, and that you're here instead of, I don't know, Ben or the rest of my group, nothing 'good' is happening outside of those doors."

Lonnie feels her soaring hope sink suddenly, and she sucks a slow breath as she debates the best way to go about this. The fairies hadn't left any instructions on what to do about this, and she idly wonders if she could press the red button now to save herself the difficulty. But that wasn't what either of her parents would do and she knows it, so instead she braces herself for Mal's reaction, and answers.

"After what happened in the gardens, there was a lot of debate about what was going to be done, and how to keep things from spiraling out of control." She keeps her voice level, and calm. Not accusing, and not blaming. Simply stating facts. "It was decided by King Adam that having the VKs in Auradon was too dangerous, and he revoked Ben's decree."

Lonnie stops just before the added clarification that they were going back to the Isle as Mal seemed to have already gotten it. She'd gone almost deathly pale, her fingers gripping the sides of the infirmary bed so tightly Lonnie half expected the metal to start warping.

"He can do that." Mal's voice was blank, also just stating facts, but tight with what Lonnie knew was suppressed panic. "Of course he can. He's the King. Of course he can…fuck."

The curse comes out as a trembling breath, and Lonnie had inched herself forward and curled her fingers around Mal's with barely a thought. "It's ok, Mal," she says calmly. "We're not going to let him send you guys back. We're doing everything we can to fight him. It's going to be ok."

She forces herself away from the phrases like 'no one's going to hurt you,' and 'you're not dying,' because she'd seen for herself the realities and well founded-ness of those fears. She doesn't want to give the other girl any more reason for panic, and already, her promises seemed to have broken through.

"You're…what?"

Lonnie subtly shifts her left hand to press the red button, if only because it was about time the fairies knew what was going on, squeezing Mal's hand gently with her right.

"You didn't really think we'd just let him send you back without a fight, did you?"

She says it as lightly as she can, but judging by the way Mal's jaw clenches, it's not as lightly received.

"Well, we are," Lonnie says firmly. "He can't make such a huge decision without approval, and we're going to argue for why it's better for you guys here."

"I don't know whether to be touched," Mal says slowly, her expression pinched. "Or disgusted."

Lonnie blinks, caught off guard. She realizes belatedly that her hand is grasping open air, as Mal had jerked it away at some point during the conversation. Lonnie lets out a reflexive, nervous laugh, and Mal's lips press tighter together.

"I uh…I'm not sure why that would be a bad thing," Lonnie broaches carefully, and Mal's eyes flash indignantly.

"Maybe the part where you Auradonians don't have a fucking clue as to what it's like over there; what our lives are like, and yet here you are still bragging about this wonderful thing you're doing for the poor abused villain kids!"

Mal's tirade ends abruptly, and Lonnie thinks she can practically hear the other girl's jaw snap shut. It hangs there between them, that word, and Lonnie can't think of anything else to say other than:

"I never said you guys were abused."

"You were thinking it," Mal says immediately, her eyes instantly darting away and towards the opposite wall, so Lonnie can no longer make out her expression. "All of you. It's that stupid fucking pity look you do that gives it away."

Before Lonnie can think of an adequate response to that, the door clicks open and the fairies flutter in. Mal's reaction is instantaneous; she tenses, and the eye contact she gives to the Fairy Godmother as the woman enters is like a challenge and a warning and a threat all at once.

"Well I'm relieved to see you awake at least," the Fairy Godmother says, either not noticing or just tactfully not mentioning the look in Mal's eyes. "How are you feeling, Mal?"

"Pissed as all fuck."

Lonnie spreads her hands helplessly at the Fairy Godmother's lifted brow, while Merry chokes in the background.

"Well," the Fairy Godmother finally says slowly. "I suppose that's to be expected given just how much magic you exhausted."

"Yeah," Mal mutters lowly. "It's not like I had sixteen years' worth of magic locked inside me or anything. No consequences there at all."

No one misses the sharp bitterness in her tone, but Lonnie somehow gets the impression that it's not necessarily directed at them. Regardless, it causes the fairies to exchange a tight, anxious look, and the Fairy Godmother to straighten severely.

"Yes," she says tightly, checking Mal's monitor and adjusting the IV minutely. "In regards to that, Mal, we have some questions for you."

Mal tenses further, something guarded going up behind her eyes. "Ok," she says carefully, and the Fairy Godmother exchanges another glance with the fairies before turning back to Mal.

"Given the extent of your 'magical hiatus,' if you will, the range and capabilities you demonstrated in the gardens should have been nearly impossible; even with tapping into the loose magic here in Auradon."

Mal's eyes flicker, but her expression remains more or less the same. She nods her head as if to say 'ok, and?' and the Fairy Godmother lifts a brow at her in a silent counter. Lonnie has to fight to remain neutral and unnoticed in this battle of wills, and she fiddles idly with the cuff of her bracelet as Mal's jaw clenches slightly.

"Yes," Mal says finally, and the Fairy Godmother seems subtly surprised. Clearly, she hadn't been expecting to win that interaction. "My mother taught me magic on the Isle. She started when I was four, and didn't stop even when the limo pulled up to our door a week ago."

Lonnie thinks a smile might have crept around the edges of Mal's mouth at those last words, but it's gone too fast for her to tell for sure. The Fairy Godmother nods, and looks strangely pleased.

"I suspected as much," she says. "And, as loathe as I am to admit this given the circumstances, teaching you about magic and the extent of your own was…is, a good thing."

Mal blinks, and the guardedness in her eyes falls away. "Really?"

"Yes, well, I doubt the king would be pleased to hear such news," the Fairy Godmother admits ruefully. "But, really. I shudder to think of just how much damage could have been done if you'd simply been let loose in Auradon without such knowledge or grasp of your abilities, surrounded by untapped magic…."

She trails off with a vague sound and Mal straightens on the bed, latching onto something in the other woman's words.

"Yes, well," Mal says, in precisely the same cadence and tone as the older fairy. "I'll be sure to tell my mother when I see her that Fairy Godmother herself said that breaking the law and teaching me magic was a good thing."

"If I have anything to say for it, and believe me, I do, it will be some time yet before that happens," the Fairy Godmother replies without hesitation, and something uncertain crosses Mal's face.

"I thought the King made a decree," she says slowly, inching her way further upright.

"He did," the Fairy Godmother admits. "But if he thinks he's just going to toss you four back to that Isle without any reckoning from me, well…he has another thing coming."

"This from the woman who helped make the decision to restrain Carlos," Mal snarls through gritted teeth, her own wrists straining pointedly. "Forgive me if I'm not exactly leaping for joy."

"It…was a decision that I believed was necessary at the time," the Fairy Godmother answers carefully, her voice heavy. "And one that I do deeply regret, as I fear you no longer trust that I have your best interests at heart."

"Don't take it too personally," Mal mutters. "It's not a first for us and it won't be the last, so spare me the tearful apologies."

She was doing that thing again, Lonnie realized with a start. Just like in the gardens and briefly what Lonnie had witnessed in the cafeteria that one time. Lashing out and hurling insults, putting up a fight to cover her fear. The Fairy Godmother notices it too, if the slightly concerned, 'not buying your act' look on her face was any indication. Before either of them could respond, however, Faun stepped forward and spoke instead.

"If anyone should be apologizing, it's you," she says sternly, leveling Mal with a surprisingly fierce look. "But as it stands, we have other important things to discuss: such as your lifestyle habits. So if you'd be so kind as to tell us…"

"I know you," Mal says, cutting across the young woman's tirade. "Why do I know you?"

The girl's eyes narrow, and Lonnie thinks she sees a hint of green sparking in them before Mal's expression clears and it's gone again.

"Oh right," Mal says softly, a dangerous undercurrent in her tone. "That's why."

And before anyone has time to question how or what, the edge of Faun's cape is suddenly showered in sparks, the fabric catching almost instantly in such a flare of brilliant green, it makes the young woman's hair look cheap in comparison.

"That," Mal says, "Was for killing my mother." Her voice is startlingly weak despite the triumph that colors her tone.

Merry and Flo shoot her matching, disgruntled looks while Faun smoothly whips her cape off her shoulder and stomps firmly on the flames.

"I suppose…it's only fair," Faun gasps breathlessly, glaring at the now thoroughly ruined cape beneath her feet, and holding out a hand to calm her twittering siblings and the Fairy Godmother. "Although, for the record Mal, we didn't kill your mother. That would be uh, our mothers, but seeing as they live in Camelot you'll have a hard time reaching them."

She smiles tightly in the face of Mal's scowl, and Lonnie has to give the young fairy-woman massive credit for her guts, and for her calm. The Fairy Godmother clears her throat pointedly, and Mal's glare shifts focus, though Lonnie can see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, the subtle clenching of her hands.

"I think," the Fairy Godmother says slowly, clearly struggling to remain calm. "That it would be best if I only had one of you here, to minimize…well."

Lonnie sighs, inwardly sinking in defeat before rising from her chair. She knew she would be kicked out eventually, but still, she had been hoping….

"Lonnie dear," the Fairy Godmother says softly, and Lonnie blinks, looking up at the other woman. "Would you mind terribly staying? I know it's a lot to ask of you but-"

"No of course," Lonnie blurts, then clears her throat, composing herself quickly and slipping into a far more neutral tone. "I mean, I'd be glad to help."

The splutters and protests from the other fairies are silenced by Faun, who tosses the Fairy Godmother a brief, grateful look before shooing her siblings out the door. Lonnie turns carefully and resumes her seat, suddenly aware of the fact that now it was just her, the Fairy Godmother, and Mal, and while she still wasn't afraid, she was certainly more cautious. If Mal decided she didn't like her, what then? Would she be roasted just as the fairies had been?

"Those three," the Fairy Godmother sighs, shaking her head. "While I don't condone your actions in the slightest, Mal, I do know how overwhelming they can be at times."

Mal makes a quite humming sound that Lonnie thinks might have been a laugh, but says nothing else, and the Fairy Godmother continues.

"That being said, due to the recent circumstances I think that it's best that while you remain here in Auradon I continue with your magic lessons."

"I don't…I don't get it," Mal mutters, her fingers tapping against the bars of the bed. "There's a whole decree. We're not going to be in Auradon for much longer. Why are you…?"

"Because I think it's important for you to have as much knowledge about your magic as possible," the Fairy Godmother says, cutting across Mal's protest. "And as for your last concern well, as I said, I'm going to do everything I can to ensure your stay here."

"And we're all helping," Lonnie chimes in, finally glad to have things back on a track she can follow. "Ben has a plan. We're not going to leave you to the Isle again."

"Thanks," Mal says shortly, her eyes sharp even if her voice didn't quite carry it. "But no thanks. We've seen all we need to; Auradon's fine or whatever but the Isle is where we belong. Clearly."

"Mal, I understand that things seem difficult…impossible even. But I really think if you give us a chance-"

"No." Mal snaps, and her tone is sharp as she bares her teeth in a fierce expression at the Fairy Godmother. "You don't get a say here. You don't get to just bippidy boppidy boo things better this time. Not after what you did to Carlos…to us." She shakes her head, gritting her jaw. "No."

The Fairy Godmother looks stunned, and then resigned, nodding her head slowly and taking a half step back. "I understand," she says softly. "But I hope you understand that I do care about what happens to you. All of you. And I will still be here whenever you are ready."

She turns for the door then, and Lonnie starts slightly. It's an entirely understandable strategy; a tactical retreat and regroup, but the gesture still leaves her caught off guard and more unsure than ever before. The Fairy Godmother pauses before leaving to look back at her with a reassuring smile and a nod.

"I'll be just in the hall." She says it to both of them, and yet Lonnie is sure it's entirely for her benefit. "If you need anything."

And then she's gone, and Lonnie is alone with Mal. The room is silent for a tense moment, and then Mal lets out a harsh exhale and sits fully upright in the bed, stretching down to undo the straps around her ankles.

"Finally," the other girl mutters under her breath. "About time she got the fucking hint."

Lonnie blinks, though she's not as surprised as she should have been that Mal had somehow freed herself from the restraints. Honestly, the girl had been secretly wondering how long it would take the other to do just that, and Lonnie is secretly pleased to see that she hadn't underestimated the other girl.

"Do you want me to go, too?" she asks, and Mal sighs again, laying back against the pillows.

"No," she says, then frowns. "I mean yes, but…no."

"Ok." Lonnie eases back in her chair just a bit, and Mal seems to relax slightly as well.

"Why didn't you run?" Mal says, and Lonnie looks up at her, but the other girl's eyes are closed, her hands still at her sides. "In the garden. Now. Aren't you terrified of the horrible villains?"

"I don't see any horrible villains," Lonnie answers honestly, and Mal's hands turn into fists again, but her eyes remain closed, impassive. "I just see kids. Like us."

"I am nothing like you," Mal spits, her eyes opening enough to dart a narrow-eyed glare in Lonnie's direction. "None of us are, and that was your first mistake. Assuming that we're in any way like you."

"Ok," Lonnie says, eager for the challenge but anxious as to just what she might find out if she pressed. "How are we different?"

Mal scoffs, forcing herself upright and glaring at Lonnie. "Well let's start with the simple fact that our parents are villains and yours are heroes and go from there."

"That doesn't necessarily mean…," Lonnie tries, but falls silent at the sharp look Mal gives her. "Ok," she concedes instead. "Maybe it does, but it doesn't change the fact that you guys are still kids, and pretty much just want the same things we do."

"Which are what, again?" Mal asks, that same sharp skepticism reflecting in her voice. "I guess we were all just so busy with staying alive and avoiding our parents that we forgot."

And Lonnie definitely seized on that little bit of information, noting the tight inflection as Mal said the words 'avoiding our parents'; the way she seemed to tense over the phrase. That and of course, the emphasis on staying alive, as if every minute not spent looking over your shoulder resulted in a painful death. Or just pain in general. It's a horribly sobering thought, and one that Lonnie doesn't want to focus on but knows that she has to if this is going to work.

"Well," Lonnie says, forcing a light tone despite the fact that this wasn't anything to be light over. "Really it's just simple living, you know? Things like having friends, having fun. Love, family. Stuff like that."

"My point still stands," Mal says, her words clipped in what Lonnie thinks might be anger, but suspects is something heavier. Grief.

"But even on the Isle you guys had to have had something like that," Lonnie tries, and Mal smirks without humor.

"Something like that."

Lonnie is entirely silent, unable to process- no, she's able to process, she just doesn't want to. Doesn't want to think of all the implications, doesn't want to imagine the things the VKs might have gone through. Mal takes in the look on her face, seeming to read her thoughts from her expression. This time when she smiles, it's a bit more genuine, though Lonnie feels vaguely horrified by it.

"It's ok," the girl says, with far too much calm for the ideas going through Lonnie's head. "We're used to getting Auradon's leftovers."

And that's when it solidifies in Lonnie's mind just how messed up a system it was. That the VK's lives were so far removed from their own; that even the idea of things like family and friends (love) were nothing more than unwanted leftovers. Just the same cast off ideals from Auradon, sent to the same trash filled demise as everything else- to the Isle of the Lost.

Chad

Finding de Vil hadn't been hard. Threatening him hadn't been hard either, especially when the freak had thrown a fit about his shirt. Pulling back his fist hadn't been hard, it'd been effortless, the anger in his head translating through the anger in his body. The reaction from de Vil was instant; he grew small, his eyes closing as his arms came up to hug his body. A tactic Chad recognized as an attempt to protect his stomach. It wouldn't matter. The freak was going to get what was coming to him and that was that, no matter what he said.

Except he didn't say anything, which made it…difficult. Difficult for Chad to hang onto his anger as all the stress and worry and concern began to wear at him. Difficult, because as Chad steeled himself to swing his fist forward, readying his other hand to grab the other boy and keep him in place, the boy was pressing himself backwards against the metal lockers, his shoulders coming up defensively.

And suddenly it wasn't de Vil on front of him. It was his mother. With that same wavering expression on her face. The same hunched shoulders. The same tightly shut eyes; the head ducked and waiting….waiting….waiting….

Chad clenched his jaw against the sick feeling in his stomach, the gasp that wanted to escape. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true, just a coincidence. The freak was probably beaten up all the time on the Isle, and really, it wasn't any surprise. But something in the slump of the smaller boy's body made Chad pause. It wasn't tense, like someone who would fight back against a peer. It was a weak gesture, a submissive one that spoke of defeat, of accepting pain from someone you knew was higher above you. Someone you couldn't…wouldn't dare to…fight back against.

It couldn't be true. It wasn't true. But Chad had seen that same submissive slump before. Knew what came with it, and he forced his hands back by his sides and wiped his face of any expression.

It wasn't true. Couldn't be. Chad waited a moment, and watched as de Vil slowly drew his head up between his arms. Only a little, only so Chad could see the cautious glint in his dark eyes. It wasn't quite fear, he noticed morbidly. Just caution; wary and anxious.

It wasn't true, but he had to know. If it wasn't just a matter of de Vil being kicked around by other villains' kids. If it was closer than that. Chad shifted his weight, bracing his hands at his sides as though for balance, and deliberately drew his right leg back, twisting his body slightly as he did so.

The fear flashed across de Vil's face then, blowing his eyes wide as a half-stuttered curse slipped past his lips. And it was instinct, Chad could tell. Chad knew. Instinct that drove Carlos back into the lockers in a desperate scramble for safety. Instinct that made the submissive slump in his spine that much more weak and vulnerable.

Chad waits barely a breath before dropping his leg and moving forward, his heart thudding in his chest as his stomach clenched painfully. He reached out and placed his hand on Carlos' shoulder again, grabbing at his collar like he was going to slam the other boy against the metal lockers.

"Ssorry." Carlos whimpered, his body tucking tighter against itself. "I'm-m ssory…"

I'm sorry. Let me fix it. Please, I'm sorry!

"Fucking son of a bitch," Chad hissed sharply, his hand faltering at Carlos' shoulder. "I can't do this."

It's true. He can't do this. He knows. It was true. He forced himself to back away slowly, intentionally angling his body away and into a less threatening pose. He hears Carlos splutter slightly, confusion and fading terror making his baffled 'What?' that much shakier.

"Just…." Give me a minute, Chad wanted to say. He needed time to process this, but there was no time and there had been a point to this confrontation. "Fuck it, just…follow me."

And he knew his voice wasn't sharp enough, wasn't cruel enough to make sense or be obeyed but that was to be expected right?

"F-f-follow you?" Carlos repeated, and Chad bit back his wavering emotions and forced a sneer onto his face.

"Yes, follow me. What, did I stutter?" He had to fight against the guilt his insult pulled up, but it made Carlos angry at least, and the other boy straightened, effectively losing the last bit of that horrible submissiveness.

"Ass-hole," Carlos mumbled, and Chad grit his jaw, turning his grimace into a sharper sneer. He was an asshole, he reminded himself. But he was an asshole with a purpose, and a traumatized mother, and a hurting friend/roommate that was owed an apology before anything else.

But it was hard. Hard to ignore the nagging familiarity, that sense of vulnerability that seemed to hug the shoulders of the boy beside him; even as he struggled and protested against Chad's grip. It was hard to ignore that, but Chad managed well enough. At least until they reached the door to room number 40, and he extended his hand to tap Carlos' shoulder. The boy flinched sharply, like Chad's tap had been a hit, and suddenly it was that much harder to maintain the façade.

"Right here," Chad managed tightly, pressing his lips together as he knocked on the door. He heard a muffled hum of assent from the other side and shoved the door open, pulling Carlos in after him and shutting the door again before it was too late.

Aziz sat on the bed, one leg tucked under him while the other hung down, idly tapping against Nikhil's side. The other boy was on the floor, his arms wrapped around his guitar, and picking out a song that Chad only vaguely recognized. As Chad entered the room, Aziz nudged his boyfriend's side again, causing the other boy's fingers to slip on the strings, the guitar emitting a sharp *twang* in response. Nikhil made a fond yet exasperated noise and glanced up, and that was when he saw Carlos.

His body tensed, his arms shifting to slide the guitar onto the floor beside him. His movement drew Aziz's attention, and the other boy sucked his breath in sharply, leaping to his feet and scowling furiously.

"Oh fuck no!" He snapped, and Chad groaned inwardly.

Damn it. He should have known this would be a bad idea the second he'd made his connection in the hallway. But it was too late to turn back now, as Carlos stiffened defensively and pressed himself against the door behind Chad, both Aziz and Nikki now on their feet and barely a breath away from exploding.

"No, stop." Chad said firmly, and though even he didn't know who he was addressing, everyone paused in their tracks. "Guys," he said slowly to Aziz and Nikki, frowning sharply in warning. "Just hang on a second."

"What is he doing here?" Nikki said, his chin lifting sharply to indicate Carlos, who was still stiff and unyielding by the door.

"He's here to listen, and apologize," Chad said, still with that warning in his voice. His words made Carlos flinch (he could feel it in the sharp shift of movement behind him) and Aziz shake his head.

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen," he said, and though his hostility was expected, it still threw a further wrench in Chad's plan.

"We appreciate what you're trying to do Chad," Nikki said evenly.

"No we don't," Aziz broke in in an undertone, shooting Chad a dark look.

"But I think it's best if he leaves. No offense," Nikki finished, adding the last two words with a wince in Carlos' direction.

"T-taken," Carlos shot back, but he said it as part of his retreat, his hand already turning the knob of the door.

"Nope," Chad growled through his teeth, tugging Carlos back and around so he stood between the boy and the door. "You're staying. This is happening."

"Chad..."

"Aziz," Chad fired back, and the other boy blinked.

"…Carlos…," Chad said, and if it was strange for him to actually say the boy's name aloud, it was stranger for him to hear it, if the slight jerk he gave was any indication. "Sit."

Chad tugged him a bit closer and in the general direction of the grey bean bag chair. Nikki made a soft, despairing noise of protest, while Aziz clicked his tongue sharply in agitation. Carlos meanwhile, staggered slightly in shock and stared at Chad with something that was like bewilderment, and Chad turned his own despairing groan into a growl.

"Sit down, de Vil," he said sharply, and Carlos blinked before sitting cautiously.

Despite his care, the boy still almost fell off of the bean bag, and the absolutely stunned look on his face would have been hilarious and even adorable if it weren't for the fragile atmosphere. A fraction of Nikki's hostility went out of his face at Carlos' blunder, but Aziz remained impassive, crossing his arms tightly and clenching his jaw. Chad watched with equal parts trepidation and…not exactly pity, but it was heavy and sad all the same- as Carlos warily righted the chair, pushing on it experimentally with his hands. The chair sagged and rolled at his touch, the 'beans' inside squishing noisily, and something light and surprised flickered around the edges of the other boy's mouth; reflecting in his eyes. Chad sighed, bringing his palm up to his face.

"Just sit in it, Carlos," he said wearily, and the boy looked up, instantly snapped back into the present.

He clenched his jaw and pushed on the chair one more time, as though daring Chad to challenge him about it, then shifted his body around and sat much more uprightly in the chair. Then he glanced over towards Nikki and Aziz, and seemed to realize just how close he was to them. Chad watched the realization crawl across his face, and Carlos bit his lip before carefully scooting the bean bag a few inches back and closer towards the wall.

Aziz threw his hands up and rolled his eyes angrily at Chad. The sudden movement made Carlos stiffen on the grey bean bag, but no one else seemed to catch it but Chad. It just further solidified that comparison; that wrongness, in his mind, as well as strengthen his resolve to bring some kind of resolution to this situation if he could.

"Right," Chad said, nodding his head in Carlos' direction. "This is why he is here. He is going to listen; you guys are going to talk, and hopefully by the end of it there'll be an understanding."

"It's not that simple!" Aziz cried, all but collapsing onto the edge of the bed, at the same moment Carlos bit out:

"There's m-more to it than thththat!"

"More to it than, what, exactly?" Nikki sat down on the bed beside Aziz, his movements and his words deliberately calm. "More than our lack of ability to properly fuck a woman, as Jay so eloquently put it?"

"Wait," Chad said, practically choking. "Wait. Wait." He reached behind him and pulled out his deck chair, sitting in it and closing his eyes a moment, shaking his head. "He said what?"

"Thank. You." Aziz sniped, lifting his shoulders in an exaggerated 'see?' gesture. "I fucking told you…!"

"Tell me why I only dragged him here?" Chad replied, still stunned and more than vaguely sickened as he glanced at Carlos, who had tucked himself into the beanbag chair defensively but was still glaring in Aziz and Nikki's direction, his face a mask.

"There's more to it tha-than that," he repeated firmly, and it took all of Chad's self-control not to launch himself back into the mindset he'd been in in the hallway.

"What more?" he said instead, and Carlos' eyes flickered.

"Do you mean the part where Evie rather suggestively said that the right girl would come along eventually, but that in the mean-time it wasn't really attractive that we were so 'desperate'?" Nikhil deadpanned, not breaking eye contact with Carlos. "Or the part where Mal told us that we were lucky this was Auradon because if we'd been on the Isle she probably would have killed us both for existing?"

"And by probably, she meant definitely," Aziz added tightly, in such a tone that Chad didn't doubt that it had also been a direct quote.

"Right," he said. "So, I clearly grabbed the wrong person and I'll be right back," Chad muttered dazedly, about to abandon ship when Carlos scrambled his way up from the beanbag, his eyes blazing darkly.

"Wh-wh-what about the part wwhere you have to avoid certain shops in the marketplace?" he declared hotly, his hands in shaking fists at his sides. "Because if you don't then you mmmight not come back? Or-or-or the part where people like you can do wh-whatever they want to people like me because they 'just can't help wwho they like'?"

Carlos drew a ragged, shaky breath, and when he blinked Chad saw the emotions he was trying to suppress. Could hear the edge of tears in his voice.

"Or the part where they say that you shouldn't give the wro-wrong impression…shouldn't look like tha-tha-that or act like that. Or else it's just an op-pen inv-v-itation."

Carlos blinked harder, and his expression slipped, losing its fierce edge and shifting into something pained and vulnerable. He shook his head and glanced in Aziz's direction. It wasn't long, but it was enough to make the other boy falter, if only for a second, and for Carlos to lean his weight towards the door. Nikki just blinked, so thrown he couldn't have spoken if he tried; Chad knew because he felt the same way.

"I've hheard it too," Carlos finally whispered, dropping his eyes and clenching his hands into fists again. "I-i-it's different on the Isle. No-not like here."

He shifted his weight again, closer to the door now, but Chad wasn't about to stop him. Not this time. The boy hesitated at the door, however, his hands opening and closing rapidly before he lifted his head, darting another glance towards the two boys on the bed.

"I'm nnnot sorry. I can't be"

And then he was gone, leaving behind two shaken and shattered figures, and a third who wondered just what the fuck he was supposed to do about this now.

Ben

They're barely down the steps to the dorms, and already Ben is questioning everything. Chad hadn't said a single word since the door closed, but once they're back in the main lobby of the dorm building, he rushes to nearest wall and punches it hard.

"Chad?" Ben cries, alarmed, as his friend hisses a curse between his teeth, shaking out his hand and glaring fiercely towards nothing in particular.

"Fine, the other boy grumbles, straightening and sucking a sharp breath. "I'm fine. They're not, and fucking shit Ben did you not hear what I just heard?"

Ben blinks, so caught off guard by Chad's rapidly shifting emotions that it takes him a moment to realize that the other boy's frustration is directed at him this time.

"Yeah Chad," he finally manages shakily. "Yeah, I did hear, but I don't…"

"And you're just standing there?" Chad snaps, whirling on Ben before realizing they were still in a relatively public area, and instantly retreating, losing some of his manic demeanor. "How are you just standing there?"

It's a far different Chad that Ben is seeing now, compared to how he'd been back in the VKs' room; back when they'd first arrived, even. Ben narrows his eyes slowly, examining the set of Chad's jaw, the way he kept moving his feet even standing still.

"I missed something, didn't I?" Ben says, and Chad rolls his eyes with a quick huff.

"Yes, you did," he says lowly. "Gods Ben, how could you not…"

"No, I mean you," Ben clarifies quickly, shifting the two of them into a more secluded section of the lobby. "What was that in there, Chad? Why were you such a…so…?"

Clarification, and maybe a hint of annoyance, crossed Chad's face then, and he gives Ben a sort of sideways look.

"Why was I such an asshole?" he finishes, and Ben gives the other boy a look of his own. "I mean come on, Ben. You wanted to know what things were like on the Isle, but they weren't gonna answer to you being…you."

Ben gapes, vaguely offended, and Chad makes a sharp noise in the back of his throat, running a hand through his hair.

"I mean," he continues shortly. "You being all sad and sorry, all your pity and concern and 'oh tell us how horribly abused you were.'" He grimaces sharply and continues. "I mean, you heard Jay-it wasn't going to work. They wouldn't tell you what shit they went through like that. But if I'm a dick to them, and play into their disbelief and suspicion, they'll say whatever they can to shut me up."

He trails off with a guilty and slightly haunted look, and Ben nods his head slowly, catching on.

"So it was a trick," he says, not exactly approving, but well. It had gotten them the information they wanted.

Chad shrugs a shoulder and crosses his arms, and Ben shakes his head in amazement at the other boy's audacity.

"I just don't get why you wanted to be there in the first place," he says, mimicking Chad's pose and crossing his own arms. "I was pretty much convinced you hated the VKs and you'd be celebrating my Dad's decree."

"Oh don't get me wrong, I can totally see why he thinks what he does," Chad replies, seeming to tuck a little tighter into his aggressive posture. "But I wasn't quite done with de Vil and anyway, I wanted to form my own opinions."

"Done with him?" Ben repeats carefully, suddenly extremely guarded. Chad's face twitches, his eyes widening minutely before he slowly shrugs his shoulders.

"Ha ha, yeah I uh… may have threatened to beat Carlos into a pulp after um. After what happened with Nikki and Aziz."

"Chad!" Ben hisses, frowning hard as he glared at the other boy. "Didn't we talk about this?"

"Yeah, we did," Chad mutters, his eyes suddenly hardening to match Ben's glare. "But you know, the specifics of my tendency to hit people that piss me off were never fully addressed, and there wasn't really anything related to homophobes and villains, so…."

"Chad."

"What?" Chad snaps back, but Ben notices that he looks at least a little sorry. "I didn't, if that makes you feel any better. Really kind of wish I could, though."

"Why?" Ben furrows his brows at the other boy. "What did I miss, Chad…why did you really want to see the VKs?"

"Like I said," Chad says tightly, his arms tightening across his chest. "I was going to beat Carlos for what happened in the gardens. But then I noticed just how similar…." He trails off with a grimace, his eyes flickering.

"Your mom," Ben finishes, half-guess and half-confirmation that this was real.

"Yeah," Chad says, his jaw gritting slightly. "So instead of stomping him into the ground I dragged him to see Nikki and Aziz, thinking maybe I could get him to apologize or something, I don't even know, really."

Ben feels his face shift without permission, his brows lifting in surprise. "I…um. Oh," he chokes out carefully. "How did…how did that go?"

"About as well as all of this has been going," Chad growls, frustration screwing up his face and turning his expression sour. "Found out that things on the Isle are so much more fucked up than they already appear, and that there's a good chance-" He catches himself, shaking his head. "Never mind."

"Is that where the emergency meeting sprung up from, then?" Ben hazards, the tense reactions from Aziz and Nikki suddenly making much more (if not tragic) sense.

"Pretty much," Chad replies, sighing and leaning back against a wood-furnished pillar. "What are we gonna do Ben?"

Ben shakes his head, letting out a short sigh of his own. "I don't know."

And he really didn't. That was the worst part. He'd had this whole plan to try and unite the two different sides of Auradon; the two warring sides of the fairytales. But this wasn't like the stories at all, and he had no clue how he was going to salvage this. If it even could be salvaged.

"The Council's not gonna to go for any of this," Chad murmurs, lifting his head to peer at Ben. "You do know that, right? Villains, kids or not…especially the villains from their stories; abuse or not."

"All of them, do you think?" Ben presses, wondering how Chad knew, why he was so sure. And how Ben was the one looking to Chad for advice, for once.

"Most of them," Chad says, lifting his eyes to the ceiling in thought. "I mean, you know your Dad's going to have the most weight so. And my Dad…will probably vote to send them back. My Mom won't, of course, but her votes don't do much."

Ben winces at Chad's tone, nonchalant despite the practically brutal way he tore all of Ben's hopes to pieces

"The Fairy Godmother will vote to keep them here," Ben tries. "And Aladdin made it pretty clear where he stood at the last meeting."

"Yeah, but then there's Phillip and Aurora," Chad counters easily. "And as much as I…I don't doubt Audrey or anything, but there's no guarantee."

"So basically," Ben says, trying not to focus on Chad's sudden dodge. "Unless we get some other votes for our side, the VKs are going back to the Isle and will sink right back into what they were before."

"Basically," Chad agrees grimly, and Ben grimaces, closing his eyes tightly against the rush of despair in his mind.

"Why do you do that?" he finds himself wondering out loud, and Chad makes a questioning sound before verbalizing.

"Do what?"

"Why do you always destroy the things you don't like?" Ben says, opening his eyes and fixing Chad with a square look.

Chad meets his eyes, and Ben is startled by the hollow ache he can see reflected in the other boy's face. "Because I was never allowed to when I was little," he says. "And now at least, if I break things, or people- it's my mess to clean up."

But who's going to clean up mine? Ben wonders mournfully, as Chad shoves himself away from the pillar (away from him) and heads for the main entrance. And who's going to stop you this time…what's to stop you from deciding to break something you can't fix, just because you can? What do you expect me to do if the thing you actually end up not liking is me?

Ben shakes his head and makes his own way towards the door. He had to find the Fairy Godmother and then, face his parents. His thoughts could wait; his fears and questions could go unanswered. If he failed in this situation that he had created for himself, this first act of his not-yet-reign, then he was no more fit to call himself a king than his father did. Because a true king worked for all of his people, not just the ones he approved of and acknowledged. And that, Ben knew for fact.

[Unaddressed letter to Mr. Oscar Ville, Isle of the Lost]

Dear Carlos,

Is the 'dear' a bit weird? It might be. A bit.

This is just a letter to…say that I'm sorry. I know you probably don't even know who I am or why I'm apologizing, but it stands. I'm sorry.