" Carlos De Vil looked up from the contraption he was assembling and shot the new girl a shy smile. "It'll be okay. Mal just likes to be left alone," he said. "She's not as tough as she seems. She only talks a big game."
"She does? What about you?" the blue-haired princess asked…"
Evie nodded. "It's true, Mal acts like she's tough because of her mother when actually she's a softie!"
Mal scrunched her face in disgust at the word 'soft' and stuck out her tongue. But deep down, Evie was right; Mal was soft, and that's why her mother says, 'You're such a disappointment.'
" " I don't have a game. Unless you consider getting beat up and pushed around a game, which in a way I guess it is. But really it's not that entertaining, unless you happen to be the one doing the beating and the pushing..." "
The moms widened their eyes in shock at that paragraph. Which includes Leah.
When Persephone read that paragraph, she paused and frowned, digesting what had happened to Carlos before she continued reading.
Jane let out a nervous laugh. "Please tell me that this is a joke..?" She then turned to her friend/crush who sunk into his bean bag further.
"When you're on the Isle, nothing is ever a joke," Diego told Jane. "So smaller kids like my cousin tend to be the easy target for bullying and abuse disguised for 'entertainment.' "
The VKs nodded in agreement with Diego's explanation while the Auradonians gaped at him in horror, terrified about the things that smaller kids like Carlos had to go through.
"That's just how things like these on the Isle work," Diego added with a shrug. "Where abuse and mistreatment are our love language."
"None of you children deserve that!" Mulan and Shang said at the same time before exchanging looks in surprise and then fixing their attention to Carlos's cousin.
Again, Diego shrugged.
" Carlos turned his attention back to the mess of wires in front of him. He was smaller and younger than the rest of the class, but smarter than most of them. He was an AP student: Advanced Penchant (for Evil)…"
"This reminds me of someone I know.." Anxelin eyed her younger sister who stared back at her with a blush appearing on her cheeks.
"That's impressive," Phoebus said and his wife agreed with him.
"Don't forget 'for evil,' Dear," Esmeralda reminded.
Phoebus chuckled softly. "Of course, I won't forget."
" Privately, Carlos thought of it as her Rage Diet: no carbs, just barbs—no hunger, just anger—no ice cream, just high screams..."
"Um, what does this mean?" Anna asked, fearing the worst possible answer might be Carlos was verbally abused.
Diego took a deep breath and replied, "Carlos…" he trailed off, trying to find some answer to give to the queen of Arendelle but it was hard because Carlos was abused in every way one cannot imagine. "Was probably the only kid I know who was abused badly. That's all I can say," he lets out a shaky breath.
"Oh dear!" Anna covered her mouth as her husband wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.
" " Yeah. Anyway, I'm also your neighbor. I live just down the street in Hell Hall."
"You do?" Evie's eyes went wide. "But I thought no one lived there but that crazy old lady and her—" "
The moms were curious. "The old lady and her what?" They chorused while raising their eyebrows.
" "Don't say it!" he blurted..."
"Don't say what?" The moms chorused again, this time including Persephone and Leah, eagerly awaiting what was going to say next.
" " Dog?" she said at the same time..."
"WHAT?!" The moms exclaimed loudly, causing their kids to cover their ears, in an attempt to avoid getting deaf, but they were no less in shock like their mothers.
The dads too were in a state of shock at the fact that the old hag called her son, 'Dog'.
Surprisingly, some of the VKs too had the same reaction as the Auradon dads.
Persephone immediately closed the book as she moved away from the podium, still reeling from what she had just read.
"Good Gaia!" She exclaimed, "What did I just read?"
Diego sighed. "The tip."
"The tip?!"
Diego nodded. "Yeah. You'd have to continue."
Persephone shook her head quickly and up her index finger. "No, um let me cool down first. My head feels light."
And with that, she did. Persephone took a deep breath as she composed herself before she slowly went back to the podium to read.
'Oh dear, this is gonna be hard to read,' Persephone thought as she opened the book and continued where she left off.
Meanwhile, the moms were trying to process what they heard just now, and most of them if not all were filled with rage, especially Esmeralda, who looked as if she was about to explode at any moment.
"Carlos shuddered. "We—we don't have dogs," he said weakly, feeling his forehead begin to perspire at the very thought. His mother had told him dogs were vicious pack animals, the most dangerous and terrifying animals on earth..."
"Oh my gosh," Snow White said softly, tears threatening to stream her pearly white cheeks. "Dogs are one of the most sweetest creatures ever created," she sniffed. "Why would she do such a thing to this poor boy?"
"Why would Cruella emotionally manipulate Carlos that dogs are the most vicious creatures?" Mulan asked anger started to form in her voice. "As a dog owner, dogs are one of the most loyal pets to have!"
Cinderella agreed with her friend with a nod.
"Lemme guess, Cruella threatened Carlos if he doesn't do what she tells him to do, pit bulls will maul him to death?" Meg asked.
Carlos couldn't answer. When Persephone began reading his part, he became paralyzed; he didn't want to be flooded with memories where his mother abusing him.
But unfortunately, those memories came back and bit him in the bum.
So, Diego answered for him.
"That sounds a bit far-fetched, but yeah," Diego replied with a sigh.
"Oh God," Meg stared at the black and white-haired boy with a grimaced expression on her face.
" "But she's always calling someone her pet. I thought you were a d—" "
The moms glared as they heard that sentence.
" "I told you, don't say it!" warned Carlos. "That word is a trigger for me..." "
The moms' faces softened. It truly pains their hearts that young Carlos suffered severely from his 'mother'. Most of them sniffled and wanted to weep but they kept their tears at bay.
Persephone paused again, shaking her head sadly. She had something itching in her throat as if she wanted to cry.
"Poor boy," the goddess of flowers whispered before she resumed her reading.
" Evie put up her hands. "Okay, okay." Then she winked. "But how do you fit in the crate at night?"
Carlos only glared..."
"Not funny, Evie," Ruby said, slightly glaring at the blue-haired girl.
"Sorry," Evie replied sheepishly, flushing intensely.
" Their first class was Selfishness 101, or "Selfies" for short, taught by Mother Gothel, who took way too many self-portraits with an old Polaroid camera..."
The Fitzherbert family rolled their eyes.
"Oh Mom," Ginny facepalmed.
"The photos were littered around the classroom: Mother Gothel making a duck face, sleepy-eyed Mother Gothel in an "I woke up like this" pic, Mother Gothel in "cobra" pose. But Mother Gothel herself was nowhere to be found..."
Again, the Fitzherbert family rolled their eyes.
"Gothel kinda reminds me of some models on Instaroyal," Anxelin said as she cringed.
"What if Gothel is one of them but she doesn't have the internet or Instaroyal?" Ruby asked, her green eyes widened at the idea.
"Oh God, sis don't give any ideas," Anxelin pleaded.
"But before they could get too far, a cold voice cut through the chatter. "Why, if it isn't Carlos De Vil," it said behind them.
Carlos would know that voice anywhere. It was the second-most terrifying on the island. When he turned, Mal was standing right behind him, next to Jay. Carlos automatically checked his pockets to make sure nothing had disappeared..."
"It sounds like the first terrifying voice for Carlos was Cruella," Kristoff noted.
"Yeah, poor chap," Naveen said sadly as he shook his head.
Carlos still didn't say anything, his mind wandered off elsewhere; trying to distract himself from listening to the story at hand.
Mal, Jay, Evie, and Jane looked down at Carlos worriedly, especially Evie and Jane.
" "Hey, Mal," he said, trying to appear nonchalant. Mal never spoke to anyone except to scare them or to complain that they were in her way. "What's up?"
"Your mom's away at the Spa this weekend, isn't she?" Mal asked, elbowing Jay, who snickered…"
Esmeralda narrowed her eyes. "Where Mal is getting at here?"
Jay laughed weakly. "You'll see."
" "Y-yes," he said uncertainly, unsure if that was the correct answer even though it was the truthful one.
"Right answer," Mal said and patted him on the head. "I can't exactly give a party at my place without my mother yelling at everyone, not to mention the whole flying crockery issue…" "
Jane lifted a brow. "Ah, a party?" At the same time, Jane can't help but feel uncertain as to where this conversation was leading.
" "And we can't have it at Jay's because his dad will just try to hypnotize everyone into being his servants again," Mal continued..."
Jasmine shuddered, and Aladdin noticed. He sighed and gently wrapped an around his wife's slender shoulders, drawing her close to him.
" " Great. Perfect. Party at your house. Tonight."
Party? At his house? Did he hear that right?"
"I don't like where this is going," Jane said skeptically.
"I second that," Akio nodded.
"Third," replied Emir.
" " Wait, what? Tonight?" He blanched. "I can't have a party! I mean, you should understand, my mom doesn't really like it when people come over—and, um, I've got a lot of work to do—I have to fluff her furs, iron her undergarments, I mean—" He gulped, embarrassed..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, are you telling me that Carlos did all of these for his mother?!" Tiana asked angrily. "What is he? A slave? A servant?"
"You can say both," Diego replied.
"Like how you know all about this, why didn't you help Carlos?" Shang asked, curious.
Diego sighed, it was not as easy as it seemed to be.
"I did. I let him sleep with me after he was severely punished by Cruella only for me to get punished brutally for helping Carlos."
Shang stared at the boy in shock, as well as the other Auradon adults.
"So, helping is a sin on the Isle?" Eric asked.
"Hell yeah! It's considered 'weak' on the Isle," Harriet answered.
"Any form of doing good is considered a sin," Yzla added.
" Mal ignored him. "Spread the news. Hell Hall's having a hell-raiser." She seemed to warm to the thought. "Get the word out. Activate the twilight bark, or whatever it is you puppies do."
"Bowwow," barked Jay with a laugh..."
"That's not nice," Lonnie noted, giving Jay and Mal a disappointing look.
Jay rubbed the back of his neck nervously while Mal sunk further into the bean bag.
" " There's a party?" Evie asked shyly. Carlos had forgotten she was standing right next to him, and he jumped at the sound of her voice..."
Evie looked down at Carlos and noticed that he was still dead silent and this worried her.
"Is Carlos alright, Evie?" Blue Fairy asked, her eyes fixed on the blue-haired girl.
Evie shook her head. "No, this chapter triggers him."
"Oh dear," Snow's voice cracked as she cried softly, along with Cinderella and Ariel. Thankfully, their husbands comforted them.
"Persephone, can you please speed up this chapter? This chapter made Carlos paralyzed," Evie pleaded.
Persephone nodded silently and tried her best to read faster.
" Mal sighed. "Of course there is. The party of the year. A real rager, didn't you hear?" Mal looked her up and down and shook her head sadly. "Oh, I guess you didn't hear." She mock-winced, looking at Carlos conspiratorially. "Everyone's going to be there..." "
'Bitch,' Anxelin thought, grimacing, and no doubt that Harriet had the same thought as well.
" "They are?" Carlos looked confused. "But you only just told me to have it—" He quickly got the message. "Everyone," he agreed..."
"That sounds like a threat to me," Akio commented.
" Evie smiled. "Sounds awesome. I haven't been to a party in a long, long time."
Mal raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is a very exclusive party, and I'm afraid you didn't get an invitation…" "
"You sound like a spiteful bitch there, Mal," Anxelin said glaring at the purple-haired girl.
Mal lets out a sigh. "I know."
Rapunzel facepalmed and Eugene smothered a smirk. No one knows where Anxelin learned expletives from.
There was a tiny smile crept on Harriet's face. She liked this goth girl and hoped to vibe with her when the next break came.
" "…you want to see what I'm making?" he asked, trying to change the subject as they settled into their seats. He took out of his bag a black box, with wires and an antenna poking out from one side—the same contraption he'd been fiddling with earlier. "I made it from some old magician's stuff."
"Sure." Evie smiled. "Hey, is that a power core? It looks like you're making a battery, right?"
Carlos nodded, impressed. "Yeah."
"What does it do?"
"Can you keep a secret?" he asked, whispering.
Evie nodded. "I keep them from my mom all the time."
"I'm trying to poke a hole in the dome."
"Really? Can you do that? I thought it was invincible..." "
"This is an interesting conversation," Kristoff said, impressed. "It looks like Carlos loves making new things- like an inventor."
"Yeah, at least we got a little breather," Hercules joined with a nod.
Ariel smiled softly while sniffling and wiping off her tears using the back of her hand. Carlos reminded the queen of Triton's Bay of her younger daughter, Elle, who loves making new things using her wild and creative imagination.
" " Well, I thought I could maybe try to get a signal with this antenna here. It's actually an old wand, and I think if I hit the right frequency, we might be able to bring some of the outside world into the dome, and we can watch something other than that hairy old beast king telling us to be good, or that channel that only sells shackles…" "
Everyone, except for Beast, can't complain about that. Carlos had a point; everyone was tired of Beast's propaganda.
" She looked from the boy to the battery. "Frequency? But how?"
"I'm not sure, but I think if I can break through the dome, we'd be able to pick up Auradon's radio waves—you know, Internet and wi-fi signals. I'm not exactly sure what the frequency is, but I think that's how they get all those channels and stuff…" "
"This young lad is very smart for his tender age," Roger said, impressed.
"And he did all of this just to watch TV instead of listening to Beast's propaganda," Anita added. "Which is understandable."
Suddenly, the Radcliffes had an idea; What if they could adopt Carlos and his cousin? Since they had no children of their own after years of trying and failing.
" He didn't care about princes or enchanted lakes or chirping animals or cheerful dwarfs. What he did care about was discovering more of the online world, a safe virtual refuge, where he'd heard you could even find people with whom you could play videogames—that sounded like fun, as he never had anyone to play with..."
"Poor baby…" Snow cries again. "He's so alone."
The other moms agreed with Snow.
"Since Carlos likes video games, most of us here play video games too!" Aziz said, hoping to get Carlos's attention.
Unfortunately, he didn't, but got Diego's instead.
"Really?" Diego looked intrigued. "What kind of games do you guys play?"
"Crown of Duty, God of War, the one with the hedgehog, and this new one where the traveler goes on quests to find their sibling," Li'l Shang answered.
"Oh man, Crown of Duty is my favorite!" Emir piped up excitedly.
"Mine too!" Akio chirped. "Remember we play this after practice and homework, Emir!"
"Right."
"Um, Diego? Is that your name, right?" Elle asked.
Diego smiled at the blond. "Yes, that's my name. What's up?"
"I was wondering if you or Carlos reads comics or manga? I have some manga here that I finished reading and I'd like to give if you're interested," she explained. "Right now, I'm reading a volleyball manga and I'm in love with it!"
"Wait, is it the one with Hinata?" Nina asked, her light brown eyes widened.
"That's the one!"
"Omg, we need to catch up and read together!" Nina squealed.
Elle grinned at the daughter of Tiana. She'd like that idea.
The girls' parents watched them in awe. They had no idea that their daughters had such interest in manga or shonen mangas in general that was mainly targeted at boys.
Diego tapped his chin in thought before answering. "Well, I don't necessarily read comics or manga per se, I'm more into music."
Li'l Shang became intrigued. He might as well meet with this guy when the next break comes.
"But like how you're very kind enough to offer me, I'll try to read some of them. If they piqued my interest."
Uma snorted. "Manga? That sounds lame to me."
Elle laughed. "If you give it a chance and read them, you'd be surprised. Some manga I've read have swords, death, fighting, and teamwork, that fits well with your crew."
"Ok, now I'm interested!" Uma told Elle. "Let me know if you have any available."
Elle nodded, keeping it in mind.
Harry pondered if the mangas Elle was talking about had any characters with hooks…
"What's a manga?" Gil asked curiously, tilting his head slightly.
Elle smiled. "It's a Japanese version of a comic book, where you read stories about heroes going on their journey and stuff."
"Ah, that sounds like fun!"
"Yeah, it does."
While the AKs and VKs having their little conversation about games and comics, Persephone watched them, patiently tapping her foot and clearing her throat to get their attention.
"Ahem," Persephone began, "not to be mean, but can you let me finish? You can talk about this when the next break comes. Ok?"
The AKs and VKs blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry," they muttered.
The goddess of flowers smiled, although if she was frank, it was nice to see the kids having a lighthearted interaction after hearing what Carlos went through.
With that said, Persephone resumed.
"There had to be something more to life than kowtowing to the cool kids, organizing his mother's fur coats, and hiding from her tantrums..."
"Well the good news is that Carlos is here now," said Jay. "Where he no longer had to hide from his old hag of a mom."
His friends nodded in agreement.
" There had to be. Although right now it wasn't just his mother he had to answer to. If Mal was serious, which it looked like she was, in the next few hours he somehow had to figure out how to throw the party of the year…" Persephone finished as she gently closed the book, letting out a sigh. That was a rollercoaster of a read.
"I'm sorry that I made this hard for you Carlos," Mal apologized, sounding genuine as she turned to her friend, who was blinking at her and his lips ever so slightly curled.
"Who wants to read the next chapter?" Persephone asked out loud.
Blue Fairy got up from her seat. "I will," she then went up the podium as Persephone stepped down, returning to her seat.
"Alright now, is everyone ready?" Blue Fairy asked.
"Yes, Blue Fairy," the crowd said in unison.
"Good, let's read the next chapter," Blue Fairy said as she began reading the next chapter.
AN: *Hugs Carlos tightly*