Thank you to Monica! I'm so glad I created an attractive Carlos and you're liking the CarMal train. lol I hope you keep enjoying the fic! And thanks for noticing the Daria reference, I was afraid no one did. lol
Ben kept the genial smile on his lips until he was out of sight of the Isle Four, he rounded them to a vacant room and pulled Audrey in.
"What was that?" he asked, smile gone and patience clearly run out once they had privacy.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Audrey tried to play dumb. It wasn't often Ben was angry at her, but when he was it was slightly terrifying, he always seemed to grow bigger and his voice took on a deeper resonance.
"Bringing up her mother, was that really necessary?"
"What? I just realized who she was and wanted to let her know there was no ill will."
"Spare me, I'm not one of your insipid sycophants on the cheerleading squad. What you did was vindictive and mean."
Audrey huffed, offended on her friends' behalf and annoyed that Ben wouldn't just let it go.
What is the big deal? They're just a bunch of Isle trash. Not worth getting all worked up over.
"Audrey, this is my first royal proclamation and I want this to go well. This isn't some half assed scheme where I woke one day and thought 'maybe I'll invite Four Isle kids to the school and just hope it all works out.' This is months of planning and work. And it'll be years of more work to reach my ultimate goal. If you can't be gracious as a lady of the court ought to be, then I don't need you there with me."
The threat of cutting her out raised the alarms and made her flinch. She almost ruffled at the insinuation she was less than the perfect picture of a courtly princess. Sure he was mad about how it went today, and it was clear he wasn't going to give up on his weird little project anytime soon, but to shut her out because of an Isle brat was particularly insulting. If she wasn't around, then who knew what wiles those Isle girls would try on her Bennie Boo. She had heard of how easy those kind of girls were, and given how he had looked at Maleficent's daughter, she wasn't about to leave him alone with them and be tempted by what she as a princess could not offer.
She had designs on being Queen, and she wasn't going to let some island upstart ruin that. She especially was not about to play stepmother to blue or purple haired bastards.
"I'm sorry," she finally plead out, hating she had to eat crow to get back on his good side. "Old family grudges die hard," she used to excuse her behavior. It wasn't as if she were jealous of those Isle girls, especially not the amethyst haired fae, but they couldn't be trusted regardless; the boys included. They all had villain blood. Until this weird phase ran its course and Ben came back to his senses, she would have to look after him.
"It's hard when you grow up hearing how awful things were for my parents," she tried to sound demure and contrite. She ran her fingers up and down his lapel; hoping touching him would be distracting.
Ben sighed and accepted her reasoning. It had to be hard for her too, it couldn't be easy knowing what her parents went through, not to mention half the country, and then the daughter of who caused all that pain and heartache waltzed into school. He should have considered Audrey's feelings before pulling her into the project at all.
He also braced for when the public at large found out exactly whom he chose, he knew it would not be a universally popular decision.
"I'm sorry too," he said, but he truly meant it and his voice softened back to its normal gentle tone. "I know it can't be easy. But it's not easy for them either. They aren't their parents and they shouldn't be faulted for the sins of their mothers or father. They came here for a better life, and I want to make sure they get that chance."
"And I'll be here to help you every step of the way," Audrey smiled warmly, putting on the façade of the dutiful and supportive girlfriend.
Right between you and those tramps.
Ben smiled back, so glad she was on board despite the rough start and they both went to the student council meeting arm in arm. They had homecoming and all sorts of events to help plan for the upcoming school year.
Evie was just as disappointed by the strict rules of Auradon Prep, but she supposed she should have expected it. With how bad the pregnancy and infant mortality rate on the Isle was, surely the school wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Plus with all her mother taught her about how import succession was for royal houses, casting any legitimacy of children into doubt would doom a princess' prospects. Furthermore, no prince or future king would want to raise someone else's bastard. Ravenna's insistence that Evie remain a virgin was not just a play to nab a prince; it was something drilled into every royal since puberty.
Mal took a long hot shower but even that luxury was not enough to temper her anger.
Out of habit, she brushed her hair and put into tight twin French braids, so there would be no hair for anyone to grab in case of a confrontation. Besides Audrey, there wasn't anyone for Mal to fight but she was too distracted to consider leaving it down. She was, however, mumbling angrily to herself about how they had no real privacy or freedom as she did her hair.
Evie was slightly amused at what exactly Mal was angry at.
She wants to have sex with Carlos so bad. I almost feel bad for him because she is going to be so aggressive when it finally happens.
She had to suppress a smirk and laugh at the thought of poor innocent Carlos being at the mercy of Mal's sex drive, and it had nothing to do with what her mother taught her. She was pretty certain if Mal caught her sniggering, hellfire would burst through their gorgeous dorm suite. She wasn't worried about Carlos, however, because her little brother by choice would happily go along with whatever Mal wanted. And from the marks she had seen her fae friend leave on him and that he loved to show off, he was more than willing and eager as well.
Thankfully Mal had calmed down by the time they got to their fittings, although the glower didn't leave her face until she saw Carlos. Her mood lightened considerably in his presence and she immediately reached for his hand, both happy to openly do simple couple-y stuff in the open.
She felt particularly bold that afternoon, and pulled him close for a quick kiss. Something she definitely read was against the school handbook.
To hell with the rules, school hasn't started yet.
His wide smile made it all worth it.
Mal was intent on taking advantage of what freedom they did have before classes became in session.
Both girls had laughed that all Jay was wearing was the fluffy cotton robe the school provided when they walked to the fittings together. He hadn't brought a change of clothes and hadn't had time to steal anything.
Doug's scandalized face when they met up with him so he could escort them through the maze like dorm was priceless.
Jay being Jay, walked through the halls as if he owned the place; he was only upset there were no other girls to flirt with while he showed off his arms and legs. From Evie's heated stare, she had no problem with his fashion choice.
The tailoring was being held in a study hall that in the coming weeks would usually be filled with students. All the windows had coverings to protect their modesty. In the students' place, there was a seamstress comparing cloth swatches with her under-tailors and mannequins wearing the different uniforms Auradon had for different seasons and occasions.
Jay and Carlos were a couple rooms down; the school seemed to want to keep the sexes as separate as they could.
"Gee, do you think short sleeves are going to be a problem?" Mal asked Evie flatly and rhetorically as she saw the "summer/spring" uniform.
It was a simple royal blue polo with the school insignia embroidered in gold on the left breast. The skirt was a plain khaki and there was a choice of either blue or yellow knee highs. It looked perfect for the fading days of summer as they would probably all perish from heat if they had to wear the wool winter version.
The winter uniform consisted of a navy blazer, a wool tartan skirt with the mix of school colors, and black leggings. While Mal thought a skirt in winter at all was stupid and pants a better option, she probably would have been grateful for the wool back on the island as it was thicker than anything the Isle could produce.
Evie grimaced, knowing Mal preferred to never show her arms. She wasn't exactly shy, but it was a part of her life she'd rather keep private and never talk about. Both girls were certain they were going to get grilled during medical about the scars and every other thing that made it obvious they came from a harsh life. All things they had no interest in talking about as it ought to be self-explanatory.
"Why are we getting bespoke uniforms?" Mal asked the woman who asked them to remove their bulky leather attire and put on samples to be pinned and fitted to their exact measurement. What was on the mannequins should be good enough.
"This is a premier school for the highest echelon of the Eighteen Kingdoms. We don't just wear anything off the rack," the seamstress replied condescendingly and acted as if suggesting wearing something non-tailored was blasphemy.
"The students are in the public eye, they can't be seen in anything ill fitting. And with tailoring, we can show off everyone's best assets and will flatter their body shape," her apprentice said a bit more gently, she also didn't come from money and thought it was an unneeded expense but it helped pay her rent.
"I don't suppose I could skip the summer uniform? Or get a long sleeved version?" Mal asked, trying to work with them. She was certain her scars were not part of the image the school wanted to project.
"Young Lady, this school has a proud tradition of turning out the most refined ladies and exceptional gentlemen. There is an expectation of excellence and that includes appearance. Uniformity and conformity are paramount. We do not bend the rules for…newcomers."
Mal and Evie were sure she wanted to use some more derogatory word and all Mal could do was roll her eyes.
Oh well, I tried.
She unceremoniously shrugged off her top, bottoms, and the undershirt she had on; she was only in her linen binding for her chest and simple underwear. The Isle didn't really provide bras and she wasn't busty enough to really warrant one. There were some that Evie had created but she knew the school certainly wouldn't allow the type of underwear meant for whores.
Evie followed her example and stripped down to her underthings, bracing herself for the tension.
Seeing the deep scars that ran down Mal's arms and stopped at her elbows had rendered the Auradon tailors speechless.
"We'll see…we'll see…what we can do…" the tailor stuttered out, whispering something to her apprentice and the younger woman scuttled out the room to some errand.
"Thanks!" Mal stressed sarcastically, smiling as big as she could, mocking the older woman.
The older woman seemed to have been shaken out of her previous stupor and hyper focused on what they were wearing. Apparently even their underthings, things no one would see, were found wanting.
With a snap of her fingers, another underling appeared from nowhere with a notepad.
"Make sure we find more appropriate under garments for them both. We can't have these…rags poking through and ruining the silhouette."
Mal itched for her knife, the one that lay hidden in a sleeve pocket in her top.
I'd be able to end her in five seconds, no problem.
Evie recognized the look on her friend's face, she wondered if the seamstress could tell Mal was fantasizing about her murder.
They were told to hold still and that's what they did for over an hour.
The fitting took longer than either of them could imagine. They didn't understand why the school had so many pieces to their uniforms and had several for different occasions. The seamstress went over the dress code, it all sounded so much worse coming from her than reading it in the manual.
Summer/spring and winter casual uniform
Summer/spring and winter dress uniform
Separate dress uniforms for ceremonies
Second tier dress uniforms for ceremonies
The seamstress went over the sets, the mannequins perfectly showcasing the crisp lines and clean profiles. Then there was a dress code for how to wear the uniforms and exactly when they could wear what.
Nothing an inch shorter than fingertips when kneeling. No shoe heel may be more than one inch. No ornamental hair accessories: only scrunchies, hair ties, and headbands in the approved colors and patterns may be worn. No excess or extravagant jewelry unless attending a formal function. Shirts and blouses cannot be unbuttoned beyond the first and must always be tucked in and ironed. No undergarments may be seen at any time, nor may they be of a bright color as to be seen through. If wearing an undershirt, it must be white.
Gods, they even dictate what kind of underwear we're allowed to have.
Summer and Spring uniforms are to be worn September 28 – December 9 and March 27 – June 2. Winter uniforms from January 3 – March 10. Unless there are weather extremes that extend or shorten any season. Casual uniforms are for every day. Dress uniforms are for when a member of the reigning royal family visit, not counting His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Ben of course. There is a special dress uniform for special school ceremonies and a second one that involves ceremonies that include the royal family.
She rattled on about the different royal regalia and exact placements. Mal and Evie tuned that out as they weren't royal and didn't need to worry about that.
Boys may not have hair length below the collar, ears and eyebrows.
That's going to piss Jay off.
Hair must always be neat and out of one's face. "Fad" haircuts are not allowed. No "unnatural hair colors." Ties are to be tied appropriately at all times; the only acceptable knots are the Windsor, half Windsor, Pratt, and Balthus.
Are we supposed to know what those mean?
Bow ties are not allowed.
Oh gee, that's the one thing I was looking forward too. What am I to do?
Evie had to bite her lip, watching Mal's face shift in funny contortions, she could basically read her friend's mind. She was careful not to move too much lest she want to be pricked but she thought she might pass out from not trying to laugh.
No headgear is allowed in the buildings. Only hats may be worn outdoors on school grounds.
Jay is going to be doubly pissed.
"We'll have to book you an appointment to change your hair color. I think blonde would suit you nicely. A rich raven for you," she said to Mal and Evie respectively, trying to think of what would go best with their skin tone and eyes, never understanding why the youth of the era would do such damage to their hair for silly colors.
"This is our natural hair color," Mal told her, not wanting to change.
"You can't be serious," eying the deep purple, never have seeing it on a person other than celebrities or students from the public schools.
Clearly the woman had never met any fae before.
"I could pull up my skirt and prove it to you," Mal offered, acting as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
Evie and the apprentice both coughed, trying not to giggle at Mal's audacity. It took a moment for the seamstress to understand what Mal was offering, she then looked completely offended and scandalized as her face kept opening and closing like a fish.
"No, I'm sure that's alright."
And that conversation and all other talk ended there.
Mal was happy they were able to find a compromise and she was given three-quarter sleeves. It was enough to hide the scars and apparently they had used them in the past when there were "modest" students whose religion or parents insisted they could not wear the arm bearing shirts. Her happiness was short lived when she realized the tailor was being difficult when she didn't need to be,
Why didn't she give me the option in the first place?!
Not that Evie would ever say so out loud, but she thought Mal was going to get pre-mature wrinkles if she kept scowling the whole time they were in Auradon.
They were finally done and reunited with the boys. Jay was dressed in the sample uniform, not allowed to parade through the rest of the school practically naked. Normally he would have been smirking at being mischievous but he had a rare glower.
"What's the matter?" Evie asked her boyfriend.
"He has to cut his hair," Carlos sang lightly, mocking his friend. Jay punched his arm but that just made him laugh harder.
"Oh no," Evie said, slightly sad his gorgeous locks would be chopped off. She ran her hands through them, trying to get as much time with them before they were gone.
"Did they try to make you dye your hair?" Mal asked her boyfriend, thinking he'd have the same issue.
"Yeah, they made me an appointment with a stylist for the weekend."
"Why are you dying your hair? It's your natural hair color, they can't make you change it. The rules specifically say no 'unnatural' hair colors."
"I tried to tell him it mine but he wouldn't believe me. I didn't know how to convince him."
"Just do what Mal did," Evie suggested.
"Which is what?"
"Offer to show your pubes."
That cheered Jay up immediately and he cackled for a good five minutes. Carlos was a little less amused as he didn't want anyone who wasn't him to see his girlfriend's intimate parts, but had to admit it was rather ingenious and laughed at the thought of how offended the Auradon tailor must have been.
"Hey, it's definitive proof our hair color is our natural one, for all three of us," Mal insisted.
"Gross," Evie and Jay said simultaneously, not wanting to know that about Carlos.
He looked at them incredulously as if they didn't have pubic hair and why was his weirder.
"Well that saves me from the stylists, looks like you're still going for the big chop big guy," Carlos rubbed salt into the wound as only best friends could.
Jay flipped him off, not wanting to talk about it.
"Aww, want me to come and hold your hand? Bring tissues? Say a few words in condolences?"
Jay had enough and put Carlos in a headlock, neither seriously fighting and just shoving each other until they got to the administrative building.
Doug remained silent, feeling like a fifth wheel in their circle of friends but he had a good laugh, liking the new kids.
The scheduling for their placements tests took all of ten minutes, thankfully. They would take the next three days to assess where they were academically and see what classes they should take.
Medical was an ordeal.
Each teen was rather reticent to talk their doctor. They had gone seventeen years without seeing one, nothing hurt at the moment, and they weren't bleeding. What exactly did they need a doctor for?
"Lets just start with the basics," the ancient doctor who looked like she delivered God. "Name?"
"Maleficent Bertha LeFay the Second. Call me Mal."
"Age?"
"17"
"Height?"
"5'2""
"Date of last menses?"
"What?"
"Your period…moon blood?"
"Oh that. I don't know."
"Sexually active?"
"Sex is against the rules."
"And of course teenagers always follow the rules."
Mal rolled her eyes, not in the mood for sarcasm.
"Listen 'Mal', this is patient doctor privilege. Anything you tell me will remain between us. I don't care if you're sexually active or not, I just need to know for medical purposes. There are STIs, you could be pregnant if you don't know when your last period was."
"I'm not pregnant. I'm not sexually active. My period just doesn't come regularly so I never track."
She had no idea what an STI was, didn't sound like something she'd have.
The doctor made some notes, thinking it was might be due to being underweight as there were few things someone as young as she would have such irregular periods. Still, the teen was from the island, which if reports were accurate had no oversight, no birth control, and teens would be teens.
"I would like you to take a pregnancy test anyway, just to make me feel better."
Mal's eyes rolled so hard she felt they would fall out of her head and scowled. She knew when she was being bullshitted and that doctor didn't believe her. Her first instinct was to fight, the woman didn't know her and shouldn't make assumptions. But in the end, she went with it because it wasn't worth arguing, she knew the test would come back negative.
Gross, I have to pee on this?
Mal had never seen a pregnancy test before, an innocuous pink stick she was told she had to urinate on. At least she was given enough privacy to go to the bathroom by herself and since she was in there anyway, she also had to fill a cup.
Going to the doctors was disgusting.
"Alright, dearie. It's negative. That's good. Just know that I'm not here regularly, a nurse is. So she won't have those tests in stock. Just as they don't have any condoms or birth control. You would have to go off campus for those."
Mal gritted her teeth, off campus was probably well out of her reach as she had no car or carriage and she doubted the school would give her a ride to the local chemist to get condoms or birth control. She knew what condoms were as some of the guards that visited the brothel insisted on wearing them, not trusting the whores to keep themselves clean or risk illegitimate children. Other clients preferred not to have them at all and thought any disease or children were the whore's issue. The working girls preferring the former as sexual diseases and unwanted pregnancies were rampant. Birth control she was a little fuzzier on, as the guards had no real working knowledge of it and since it was medicinal, hard to procure. From what she did know about it, it would have been a godsend to the brothel and the Isle as a whole, as it was safer than tansy tea.
"Could you give me birth control now?" Mal asked hopeful, figuring the doctor would fill her in on what it was and how to use it.
"Sorry, I'm not equipped to give a gynecological exam today and even if I were, you're underage. I can't prescribe those kinds of medications without consent of your guardian."
The doctor didn't agree with the school's policy to teach abstinence only or Auradon's at large prohibition of birth control to minors but she respected their rules and law of the land.
Well there went that hope, Maleficent would never and she'd never ask her.
The doctor then proceeded to ask her questions about her from head to toe, she had never met anyone who asked so many questions. It would probably be faster and less embarrassing to write a memoir and hand it to the doctor.
The doctor seemed to sense that she was holding something back, so she asked intimate questions about her sex life; asking specifics that she couldn't evade with half answers.
"Even if it's not penetrative sex, you could still be infected."
"I trust my boyfriend," Mal snarled, angry she would even hint that Carlos was less than honorable.
"I'm sure you do, dearie. But I've treated too many young ladies who utterly trusted their own prince charming. Open up," she ignored Mal's temper, not the first surly teen she's ever encountered. She stabbed a cotton swab in the girl's mouth, needing the samples for the various test she could run. Mal sputtered and chocked at the invasion. If she were on the Isle, the doctor would have lost that hand but she refrained.
"OK, we'll need blood samples. We'll do a full panel in addition to STI testing. What's your domination arm?"
Again, she had no idea what she was talking about.
Giving blood samples was not fun and she was amazed at how arduous a doctor's visit was. On the Isle, it was only: Are you bleeding? What hurts? If the answer was no then they didn't come visit. What exactly where they checking for? And how could they tell by blood? Mal hesitated, not wanting to give her blood away. Several of Maleficent's lessons included safeguarding her blood and hair; the items could be used against her with spells.
"Dearie, either give me your arm and give me a blood sample, or you don't get to stay here. Auradon Prep has a 'no exceptions policy' when it comes to a clean bill of health. And you might as well put this examination gown on. I can leave for you to change if you're shy."
Still Mal hesitated, blood was sacred and not meant to be just given away. And why did a bunch of stuff in Auradon require little clothing? But in the end, she wanted to stay and give Auradon Prep a chance. A little blood and risk outweighed having to go back to her mother; if she were expelled, it very well may be a death sentence as her mother didn't tolerate failure. She gave in and undressed to change into the gown. Not for the first time that day, an adult had gasped at the scars that ran her arms.
"Dearie, what is this?" the doctor asked as she examined her arms, seeing what the damage was; making mental notes.
"I would have thought a doctor would know what scars were," Mal answered deadpan.
"This is not the time to be sarcastic," the doctor admonished. "Where did you get these?"
"Gee, I grew up in a prison filled with murders and thieves…where could they have come from?" Mal acted as if she were truly thinking of it. She didn't want to admit the scars were of her own mother's hand. "I think we can move on, I'm not on the island anymore and we'll make sure I don't go back. Isn't that right doctor?"
She wanted to ask more, demand the teen tell her everything but she saw the stubborn look she was giving. Mal wasn't going to tell her, on that she wouldn't move but she'd have to make a report. She didn't know what good it would do, Mal was right; she was no longer on the island and it wasn't like they would bother charging Maleficent with child endangerment.
"Are there any others?"
"What does it matter?"
"I need to note their depth, length, and age. Make sure they didn't do any permanent damage other than superficial. I also need to document any instances of abuse."
"You're the boss, lady," Mal didn't have it in her to fight. It wasn't like they were going to confront Maleficent about them, it wasn't as if they could punish her any further.
The doctor saw the scars on her back, angry raised red ribbons that when from shoulder blades to just above her lower back. Whoever had done it, they were precise and at least Mal had treatment as there didn't seem to be any damage from infection.
She took pictures that protected Mal's modesty but still showed the damage. She had no idea how the Crown was going to deal with it.
There were more questions and more tests, Mal was not impressed with the little hammer to her knees or what the doctor was feeling for on her stomach and other places, but they were finally done.
"Alright dearie, given your weight and the environment of the Isle, I'm going to recommend a bland diet and nutritional supplements until you get acclimated to the richer food the mess hall provides and to help with your weight. Otherwise you're healthy," the doctor seemed slightly surprised by her diagnosis.
That sounded even less appetizing than the limo food if possible. But at least they were going to be fed, she was grateful for that at least. The lunch spread had unsettled her stomach but she wasn't as sick as before.
Mal was just pleased it was finally over with.
The Four were again reunited and none of them had a good time of it.
"Ugh, I feel so exposed and violated," Carlos made a face. "Why would anyone want to go to the doctor?"
They all agreed, not liking how personal the questions got and why they were touched in random places.
It was dinner time and they were all led to the mess, a massive dining hall where goblin waiters took orders and served them food. Only a few tables were in use as school hadn't started. Doug introduced them to his band friends.
"Everyone shut the hell up and listen!" Doug shouted at the table.
The Four were a little shocked at how he talked to them, but further surprised when they all gave him the finger.
Doug flipped them off right back.
"Love you guys too. Anyway, this is Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos. They're new, please at least act like you're civilized and not totally awkward."
"In your dreams asshole," someone from the end responded. The table laughed and Doug continued his introductions.
"Guys, this is Addy, Danny, Deven, J.P., and Shane: brass section, the only ones worth knowing."
"Whoop whoop!"
"Boooooo."
"Hissssssss"
There were so many reactions happening at once, the Four Isle kids were amused.
"This is Tyler, Tony, Algae, Kayla, Jeff, and Kirara: percussion, otherwise known as the useless members."
"You're just mad because the trumpet's importance is made up and the tuba's tempo doesn't matter."
"Tony seems to think his random flailing is a substitute for a beat, don't listen to him. Next are Louis, Megan, Mark, Jennifer, Dwayne, and Jesse: woodwind, also don't matter because no one can hear them over my awesome trumpet solos. Thank you Joey Tempest."
They answered with food being thrown at Doug.
"And finally, we have Marylse and Ralph who randomly play electric bass and guitar, not sure why or how they're in a marching band. Guess we felt sorry for them."
"Pretty sure it's because we slept with your mom and she called in a favor."
"Well I made sure your mom swallowed so you won't be getting any siblings."
The utter disrespect they all showed to each other was surprising but it seemed to make up most of their friendship as they all laughed and acted as if it were normal.
Each of the Isle kids sat down, then were bombarded with questions.
They were simple and safe questions like how their day was, what dorm were they in, what curricular were they in to be in school early, but it was all at once and overwhelming.
"Guys, I told you not to be weird and awkward. They just got here, lay off," warned Doug.
The goblins seemed to be aware that they were under strict diets as they didn't even ask what they wanted, they just poured them water and went about their duties.
"Hey, they're new and interesting. If they wanted to be left alone they should look more boring," Mal thought was Marylse but wasn't 100% sure.
"That doesn't even make any sense."
"You don't make any sense."
"I'm so sorry for these heathens," Doug directed at Mal. She only smiled,
"You guys remind me of the gang activity on the Isle."
She meant it as a compliment but by their stunned silence, she thought she had said something wrong.
That silenced the table, all of them at once realizing who the Four were. They had heard rumors that four villain kids would be attending, but it just dawned on them that's who they were talking about. The Four seemed innocuous and they thought they would all be instantly poisoned or bespelled but so far the new teens where quiet, polite, and taking their enthusiasm in stride.
"Soooo…how about them Cavs?" a band member asked about the local professional tourney team, the Cavaliers, to break the awkward silence.
"Speaking of tourney," Doug interjected, "Jesse, why don't you explain the game. Jay was interested in it earlier."
Jesse was more than happy to talk ad nauseam about the sport. It was rather simple but only Carlos and Jay were interested.
"You could probably get a try out, they're always looking for strong and fast players," eying Jay's muscles and Carlos looked quick. "A majority of last year's varsity team left because they graduated."
"So I know this is probably rude," Addy, Mal was definitely sure her name was Addy, began.
"Don't," Doug warned but he was ignored.
"But I heard you ripped Audrey a new one. Please tell us all about it and in great detail," she completely ignored Doug.
Mal quirked an eyebrow, not sure exactly what she was talking about and how they would know so quickly as it happened just that morning.
"Britney from student council, which you never want to say anything in front of because she's a terrible gossip – clearly – but anyway, she said she overheard the you and the Princess talking and Princess Bitch was doing what she does best and you shut her down with her less than 100% royal pedigree," Addy expounded.
"Oh I wish I was there," another member said, Mal couldn't remember so many names.
"I wouldn't say I tore her a new one," Mal began, thinking of when she would literally beat down those who would disrespect her on the Isle and that Audrey got off lightly. "But yeah, I reminded her of Stefan's more humble origins."
"About time someone did, that bitch…"
The table all nodded their agreement.
"What's her deal anyway?" Mal asked, wanting to know why the girl had it out for her. While their parents had issues, that didn't mean they automatically had to. She had been fully prepared to let bygones be bygones and start anew. Audrey ruined that not an hour after them getting there.
"OK, so you know how Stefan only got the kingship because he said he killed Maleficent, right?" Addy paused, wondering if she had done a faux pas by mentioning the girl's mother by name and even bringing up the story but Mal didn't seem phased. She was well aware of her mother's role in the war.
"Yeah."
"Well, before Auroria had merged with Corona and Redempton to become South Riding, Auroria was a strict primogeniture absolute monarchy." Addy went on. "Like hardcore Salic Law tradition. So what the reigning king says goes. No council, no parliament, just whatever the king wants. No female, even if she's the only legitimate progeny left of the reigning King is allowed to inherit the throne. Barbaric, I know. So King Henry decrees that whoever kills Maleficent, gets the crown and his daughter. He totally bypassed his brother and his brother's sons, cutting the cadet branch of House Dornröschen off completely. Because of absolute divine right to rule, they just have to deal. But when the War of the Fae happens, it proved that Stefan lied. So this makes him hella unpopular. He barely won the war and it was because of a prince from the neighboring Corona, Prince Phillip, and the help from King Adam that Maleficent was finally captured and banished. So the war is over, dust settles. That's when Prince Edmund, prince du sang, Henry's brother, makes a challenge to now King Phillip and Queen Aurora's reign. They say the crown belongs to Edmund because Stefan never actually killed Maleficent and therefore had no right to the throne under Henry's edict. It also didn't help that Stefan had gone a little crazy because of his daughter's banishment and probable paranoia at being found out. Queen Leah got super sick as well but pulled through. So there's accusations flying everywhere how they're unfit on top of everything and there's this whole succession crisis to the Aurorian throne."
"I still don't get what her problem with me is. If anything, she needs to be mad at her grandfather for lying," Mal wondered, again all those things were not her fault.
"Princess Audrey think ill of her own family? Never. She talks about them like they're these saints who never did anything wrong. Not even after all the evidence came forward to Stefan's crimes."
"She's called Princess still, not sure why she's such a bitch," Carlos said.
"It's really just a courtesy title. Something King Adam let all the former ruling families keep, rather than call them Lord or Lady Paramounts. And the only reason Audrey's family gets to keep those titles is because they made a deal with King Adam to join in unification. The cadet Dornröschens didn't want to, they were for independence. So basically, miss Princess Audrey owes everything her family still has to someone else, namely House Bourbon."
"Oh god, we just have to hope that Ben meets someone else at university. If we have to call her Queen one day, I'm moving to Agrabah," someone from percussion bemoaned.
"Yeah we have no idea what he sees in her. He's like the nicest guy ever and she's…"
"A harpy?" Jay added helpfully.
"Bingo."
Hearing the Auradon Prep marching band talk, it put some puzzle pieces together for Mal. Audrey clearly had a hang up with her own royal blood and didn't like that Mal was a reminder of her family's legitimately questionable inheritance. She couldn't help but roll her eyes that Audrey clearly was too worried over a made up and honorary title. The so called princess was still rich and led a privileged life, what did it matter?
I almost feel really sorry for Audrey. I feel like if she were talented and smart like Evie, if she knew how to sew, knew beauty tips, and was good at math and science; she wouldn't need a prince or to be Queen to feel better about herself.
She was glad to see her blue haired friend fitting in so easily, talking easily with the others. The doubt of whether or not they made the right choice diminishing. Jay made a few jokes and also fit in. He was already charming the female band members, and some of the males as well if their sighing looks were anything to go by. She kept mostly quiet, not sure what to say without seeming harsh or like some island thug. Carlos reached under the table to hold her hand, smiling at her.
It was good, despite the bumpy start; Auradon Prep was going to be good. She had her friends, and potentially new ones like Doug and the rest of the band. Kids that were truly trying to have them fit in.
She didn't really open up until art was brought up, a few of the band members were also in the creative class. They were more than happy to give her tips on which classes to take and who to avoid.
They didn't even question how the Four's food was different from theirs, the nutritionist adamant that they follow the doctor's orders. Most of them recognized the nutritional supplements, thick saccharine shakes that were only prescribed when a student was having weight issues. The others also enjoyed a variety of food, from pizza to spaghetti while the Isle kids were all given boiled chicken, vegetables, and other bland but highly nutritious foods. All kept quiet about how they noticed how almost stick thin the girls were, the boys all but wolfing down their food as if they were afraid it would be taken away from them.
The band was a family and they had all silently promised themselves they would help the Isle kids. They knew what it was like to not be accepted by the royals of Auradon and how lucky they were to find comradery with such an awesome group.
The food wasn't great – when the doctors said bland food they meant it – but it was plentiful, something the islanders had rarely seen. They were each curious as to what the others ate, everything had an appetizing smell and they had never seen a lot of the foods before. They were still a little culture shocked that meat was not only again presented to them but everyone had some sort of animal protein with their wide variety of meals offered. They felt awkward in the presence of such riches, they even doubted at first the food was meant for them. Perhaps the waiters meant it for one of the royals. The others, however, seemed to think it was a normal everyday occurrence.
Mal wondered if she would ever get used to being among such abundance.
The company of good people made it even better.
Mal eyed a couples tables down, where Audrey was sitting. She saw a glare on the princesses' face as she talked to her friends; she decided right then that Audrey deserved her pity. She wasn't going to risk her stay on someone so insecure and petty.
The tourney team and cheerleaders all sat together, all speaking quieter than normal since they were gossiping about the new kids and not wanting to be overheard.
"They were all so rude and just…dirty looking. Like they don't shower every day," Audrey said callously.
"They look fine now," a fellow cheerleader commented.
"Yeah, because they probably had their first shower in a week."
"I don't know, they look pretty hot to me," some mindless tourney goon commented, leering at the new girls. Thinking how great it was to get some new blood, he was so tired of the frigid princesses he had to deal with. His brother was a royal guard and had visited the island, he wondered if either of them worked at the brothel. He couldn't wait until he turned eighteen, his brother promising to buy his first whore for him for his birthday.
"The long haired one is sooo dreamy. Look at those arms!" a cheerleader cooed.
"I love freckles," another sighed.
"Their hair is so cool," one commented on the Isle girls and that was too much for the princess.
"Guys!" Audrey admonished. "These are villain kids. You can't trust them. That purple haired freak was flirting with Ben. She's probably a whore like all Isle girls are."
That got the cheerleaders attention. All worried the gorgeous and exotic new girls would seduce their boyfriends.
"Plus they're probably witches. They're undoubtedly taking advantage of Ben's benevolence and have plans to free their evil parents."
All their eyes widened, not having thought of that. Crown Prince Ben had made his declaration and they all assumed he knew what he was doing. Plus King Adam had publically supported his son, they wouldn't be so careless, would they?
"And you all saw that documentary. The Isle is full of rapists. I wouldn't put it past those two thugs to be the same way. Bad blood will out."
That had hit a cord with them, growing up fearing boys and their intentions, particularly ones from undesirable backgrounds. Their virginity, they were taught, was the most important thing to bring to their future husbands. No one of means or noble blood would ever wed someone who had been ruined.
The other jocks just rolled their eyes, never having to worry about such a thing; thinking Audrey and the other girls were being over dramatic. Some of the other cheerleaders did as well, not caring about remain "pure" as they were not as nobly born and didn't have to care as much. They also knew most of their peers did not adhere to abstaining and it was all a huge ruse.
Still the seeds of doubt where sewn. More doubt was raised when Britney, a daughter of a baron in Auroria and student council member, came in and whispered to them,
"You won't believe what one of the under apprentices to the seamstress told me."
Ben sat down with the lead physician he had asked to make a special visit for the Isle kids, along with Professor FéeMarraine. Normally each student had their own personal care physician that they saw before school and got signed off to attend Auradon Prep. But he wanted to make everything as easy for the teens as he could and had the doctors come to the school.
There was also the issue of the press, once they got wind which villain children he had chosen he was certain to hear uproar from the public. He wanted to cloister them in the safety of the campus before exposing them to Auradon at large.
His father had tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn't be moved. The Four, he thought, were in most need as children of the worst villains. Certainly whom they deemed to be the worst, needed their children taken away from them immediately.
He would find out how right he was.
"Now Ben, this is a peculiar situation that needs to be treated with the utmost respect and discretion. As Crown Prince, you are technically their guardian as they are now wards of the Crown. But you are also their peer and fellow student. I don't think I need to remind Your Royal Highness that what I'm about to reveal to you is not for anyone else's ears or for idle gossip?" Dr. Sweets addressed Ben respectfully but the teen needed to know how serious this meeting was.
"Of course not Dr. Sweets. Their medical file is and will remain private and I will not ask personal details outside if they are healthy and their needs," Ben assured the doctor that he wasn't going to use the information in the medical chart for anything other than for the teens' welfare.
The doctor didn't even question Professor FéeMarraine, knowing she would never do such a thing and as Headmistress the welfare of the students was her responsibility as well.
Dr. Sweets nodded, satisfied with the answer. "They are all underweight with the exception of Jay; he seems rather robust given the situation. They are all on nutritional supplements and a controlled diet. I would like a follow up in a few weeks to check their progress."
Ben nodded, making mental notes and wanting to do the best he could. He owed it to the teens.
"They have no records of vaccinations, or any medical record of any kind, so we have started them on a primary schedule. We'll come back in a month for second doses, and the third in a year. Initial tests have come back negative, so overall they are healthy and can attend school and do all activities. If anything comes up in the blood panel, I'll let you know immediately."
"That's good," Ben sighed in relief.
"There is a…delicate issue we should discuss as well."
Ben braced himself as he was expecting some sort of bad news. It would be too naive to hope for everything to be fine.
"Two of them, Carlos and Mal, have scars that cause me great concern."
Ben swallowed hard, eyeing Professor FéeMarraine's happy mood at the teens' clean bill of health faltered, motioning for the doctor to continue.
"Carlos has some along his right leg, more and worse than what I could write off as something he could have gotten being clumsy or a rambunctious little boy."
"What do you think caused them?"
"Living in a rural area and being a hunter myself, I know exactly what cause them. Bear trap."
"Bear trap?"
"Yes, the scars are equal distance apart and the indentation shape is typical of bear traps. When I asked him about them, he confirmed he had accidently stepped on one and set it off."
He offered them photographs that the teen allowed him to take. It was standard procedure to document all cases of abuse, although Carlos was not to be too happy about being pictured, the threat of not being allowed to class without them forced their hands. Mal was the exact same way, according to reports.
"There aren't bears on the Isle, why would there be bear traps?" Nadine asked, she was a member of the tribunal that banished the villains. They specifically chose that island for its lack of predators.
Seeing the photographs, however, was stark reality of how awful things had been.
"That's one question, but another is why would a little boy have to get himself out of those traps alone? Those scars are at least eight to ten years old."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it looks like from the jagged edges and length that someone who wasn't strong enough to fully open it and engage the lock tried to get him out. So I suspect that they or himself tried to open it as far as they could, and he had to force his leg out the rest of the way and that caused elongated cuts. It's a miracle he didn't get sepsis, gangrene, or permanent muscle damage given how there are no doctors on the island."
Those were tough questions Ben didn't have any answer to, and it added to the guilt he carried. Nadine looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Those poor children, what have I done?
"And Mal?" Ben asked.
"Hers is even more troubling."
"How?"
"Her cuts are all perfectly symmetrical, almost surgical," he produced her photos, the red lines on her otherwise pristine skin could not be denied.
"What does that mean?" he couldn't even begin to imagine.
"It means someone put those cuts on her on purpose."
Ben was glad he met with Dr. Sweets before dinner because he was certain he would have vomited it. Nadine's hands shook in horror as she held the photo.
"How could anyone…why would…?" so many questions Ben had and none where closed to being answered. He knew the Isle had been bad, but this bad? How could his father let his go on for twenty years? Why would anyone torture a teenage girl?
"What do we do?"
"I recommend they see a counselor, all four of them. Just because Evilette and Jay don't have scars doesn't mean they made it out unscathed," speaking from experience, recalling his time as a Rough Rider and field doctor. Some of them were lucky enough to make it home bodily whole, but that's where it stopped. Some part of him died in the war, something that made him not the same ever since.
These kids were part of a war they had no control over but suffered all the same.
Children of war were always the ones to suffer the most.
"Okay, there is Dr. Li…" Professor FéeMarraine started to think, wanting to get the children the help they needed.
"No, not the school counselor. As much as I respect Dr. Li, she is not trained to deal with these kinds of cases. An adolescent trauma specialist. I'll do some research to get you a list."
Ben nodded, wondering if the teens would even entertain the idea of seeing a therapist. Everything was so much worse than he thought.
Dr. Sweets instructed them to contact him if they experienced any adverse reactions to the vaccinations or anything else.
"Given their magical heritage, I expect them to be rather heartier than most but that doesn't mean they don't have the normal allergies of their kind. Unfortunately, there are no tests to determine exactly how much fae or other they have each inherited. All Four of them have indicated they do not know who their other parents are, so we are left with an even larger gap in their health history. Iron, silver, lamb's blood, limes, and lemons could be deadly or just irritating, so I suggest we alert the chefs and staff of the possibility. Carlos is possibly the most human out of the four of them, but even he is not sure what his father is but knows he isn't human. I would have to do further research on the abilities he says he has, but we should be mindful of his environment. Please call me, at any time, if they show signs of anaphylactic shock or vulnerability to certain items. The more complete health assessment we can get, the better. "
"Thank you, Dr. Sweets. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule for this."
"For what it's worth, I admire what you're doing here, Your Royal Highness. I only wish we thought of it long before now."
He wasn't the only one.
Once the doctor had left, Nadine had let out the flood of emotion she had kept inside of her.
"It was Maleficent, I know it was," anger bleeding through her voice as tears gently rolled down her face.
Ben took his kerchief from his breast pocket and offered it to his professor. She gratefully took it, dabbing her eyes.
"I always knew Maleficent was a monster, but this? How could she do this to her own daughter? Why…?"
"Professor…" Ben struggled with the questions he had held onto for a long time, wondering how to phrase them without being accusatory but struggled with the anger that grew inside of him. "Why was there never any oversight on the Isle? Why did we just banish them and leave them to their own devices?"
Nadine thought long and hard, they were fair questions and she could admit to herself that part of the deplorable conditions and what happened to the children were partly her fault.
Being fae meant that she would live a long life, longer than any human and while she was a couple centuries years old, she only looked to be in her mid-forties. Having the Crown Prince look at her with weary eyes, saddened by the reality that not all was good and golden in their world made her feel her real age.
"It was after the War of the Fae. So many had died, and news was few and far between. Before we knew exactly what happened between King Stefan and Maleficent…we were all ready for peace, no matter the cost and we had already lost so much backing King Stefan. It wasn't just the Fae War but also Queen Ravenna's ravaging of Charmington, and her sister Freya's war in the North, Agrabah's war with the djinn, Northern Wei's war with the Huns…we had just lost so many: human, fae, dwarf, and the like on both sides. The population was decimated. When King Adam came to power, he rounded up all the villains to banish them. The other kingdoms agreed to unification because he helped create a villainless society. We thought…we thought banishing them to the Isle was the more merciful alternative than mass execution. No one wanted to see more death. So we decided on Castaway Cay, it used to be a fishing island with several canneries and it processed all the traded goods. We thought it'd have enough land for them to live a simple life without magic. So many villains had advanced degrees or were formally royal. We thought whatever society they could carve out would at least be a functioning one. Castaway Cay became the Isle of the Lost and we let them be."
"You wanted to forget," Ben accused, angry that they thought they could just forget their prisoners, not accepting her flimsy excuse. Their indifference to the welfare of their prisoners led to such atrocities as shown by Mal and Carlos. How could they be so callous as to just assume the villains would work everything out for themselves? "You and my father wanted to wipe your hands of them and never think of them again."
"You will watch your tone, Prince Ben," the fae warned. She would not tolerate disrespect no matter what her culpability was; her normally happy façade completely gone as she tried to hold herself together.
"Look at these pictures! We did this! We let this happen! These are just children, how could we do this to them?!" He knew there were so many more on the Isle, how many of them were suffering at the hands of their villainous parents. "People have died, don't any of you care? You might as well have just executed them because all you did was sentence them to a slow, agonizing death. There is nothing merciful about what you did," he went on, recalling the documentary.
"There was blood in the breeze!" It was the first time Ben had ever heard Professor FéeMarraine raise her voice, the dam breaking. "Ash fell like snow, and when I close my eyes I can still see the night burning! You have no idea the desolation Maleficent caused! Not just her, but Freya annihilated entire villages, they're still there in their eternal winter! Women running and holding their children, frozen where they died! Ravenna drained the youth of women across the country, she stole the lives of an entire generation…you cannot imagine what we went through to make it all stop…" Nadine broke down, overwhelmed by the memory of the wars she fought as it all came rushing back to her.
Although he wore a crown and had the responsibility of Auradon City, he felt how young he truly was. All that happened more than twenty years ago, before he was born, had been cleaned and wiped away. Only told from history books and he grew up in a peaceful time. What did he know of war? What did he know of the devastation that made Auradon bleed?
The normally happy and loquacious history professor was reduced to tears and almost hysterics by the ghosts of her past.
"I'm so sorry…I never meant for this to happen…they were never supposed to have children…we just wanted the death to stop…" the professor sobbed into her Prince's arms, hoping for some penance; barely able to breath with her regret.
"I'm…I'm sorry …" Ben tried to comfort her, knowing his lost temper caused this.
Professor FéeMarraine only cried harder, overcome with sadness that such a sweet boy was exposed to the evils of the past.
But the past was there in the form of four teenagers, all products of the decisions she had or helped make.
"We'll make this right," he repeated over and over to her, trying to comfort her as best he could, not sure if he was telling her or himself.
It was past curfew but the Isle Four were in the boys' dorm room. It was a simple enough climb from their windows to the boys' balcony if the girls wanted to or vice versa. It was also almost comically easy to evade the floor chaperones who roamed the halls. Their schedule was no problem to decipher and their clunky shoes loud enough to alert the Four immediately of their presence. The girls snuck through the darkened halls, almost melting into the shadows when they made their way to their boyfriends' suite.
The four of them had been surprised when they came to their dorms to find several sets of clothing and under garments. Apparently the tailors caught wind of what little they had, and all of it similar to what they had shown up in. They wanted the teens to be more Auradon appropriate and they all accepted the items with no fuss. Free clothes were good in their book.
"I'm not too thrilled with the style though," Mal admitted, not wanting to seem ungrateful. Jay agreed, he preferred his leathers.
"No worries, I'll make these plain clothes into something spectacular," Evie promised.
None of them were ready to let the other go, wanting to take the time to relax in their new home. They took advantage of the large television and movie selection, the girls wrapped in the arms of their respective beaus, lying on the floor against the beds. Beezy was lying comfortably on Carlos' bed, claiming the foot as his own.
Auradon television was confusing and terribly overwhelming. There were so many channels to choose from, some indecipherable as to what they were for. The Isle only had one channel and it was the Royal Broadcast Channel. For whatever reason, King Adam thought the prisoners would enjoy an entire channel dedicated to the ceremonies of the royal family.
There was a reason very few people bothered with a television on the island. The Four only ever watched in their apartment because Evie liked to see the royal regalia and dresses, getting ideas for her own fashion designs.
Auradon seemed to have an odd obsession with talking animals, their movie selection was 90% of some sentient animal in dire trouble but friendship saved the day.
Carlos eyed his cat, wondering what the feline would say if he could talk and what kind of adventures he got up to in his new home.
There also seemed to be an entire universe in which everyone would break out into song and dance during key plot points which the rest of their movies took place.
"I'm confused, are they aware they're singing?" Mal asked, trying to understand the movie of the basketball jock and beautiful smart girl trying to be together.
"Is everyone naturally rhythmic and good dancers? Those dance numbers several times a day seem exhausting," Carlos wondered as well.
"How do they decide when they're going to sing? Like, would we be singing right now if we were in the musical universe?"
"We're watching a movie, we're so confused. The angst and the drama are so overused," Jay sang out, joining in the fun.
They had more fun making commentary and little ditties than the actual movie itself. They watched it the whole way through and still didn't understand the problem.
"It's not like their parents or classmates are villains and threatening them…just be together," Mal thought they wasted too much time. She would have loved it if Carlos and her 's biggest problem was that they were from different cliques. Still, she wouldn't have let any of that get in the way of being with someone she wanted to be with.
Carlos wholehearted agreed, then kissed his girlfriend on the cheek to bring the point home.
"It's past midnight, we should probably try to get some sleep. We have tests all day tomorrow…today really," he suggested even though he was as awake as the rest and didn't want Mal to leave. Their sleep schedule used to later hours, it would be something they'd have to adjust to.
Mal got up and looked out the window, observing the grounds and surrounding woods. Something out there called to her, the greenery foreign to her as all the Isle woods and knolls where always dark and gloomy, even in the middle of the day. The grassy plains always held a permanent rolling fog.
She wanted to see what a forest in Auradon was like.
"I want to go for a run," she told them. Carlos and Jay smiled, remembering the last time they had gone running. Evie bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, excited to get out.
The all made their way to the edge of campus, where the woods started to thicken, just past the tourney field. It was a cloudy night but that was something they were familiar with. They all stood next to each other, equal distance from each other.
"How far?" Jay asked.
"Until we're tired," Mal replied, amused knowing that they did not tire easily. The boys smirked, energy buzzing through their skin. Evie trying to smile as wide but years of habit made it hard, her fist automatically going to cover her mouth. They were all ready to burn off all the excitement from the day.
"Go," Mal commanded and off they went into the heart of the forest.
The forest felt familiar and comforting, the woods their natural home. They all had supernatural speed, but Carlos led the pack as the fasted, Jay second, with Evie and Mal evenly paced. The air was crisp and almost sweet, how clean it was. They could all run faster than they ever could on the island, the freedom making their feet fly. They didn't have to worry about hidden traps or urban wreckage to trip them up or for them to injure themselves with.
Although they were out past curfew and probably would have hell to pay if caught, Carlos let out a triumphant howl,
"Owwooooooooo!"
Jay and Mal followed suit with their own hoots and laughter.
"Aaaahh-ooooooohh!"
"Yeahhhhhh!"
They all gracefully dodged the trees and jumped over forest debris, their muscles starting to burn pleasantly.
They were running away from the Isle, their parents, jealous princesses, and everything bad they left behind.
Carlos wasn't sure how far they had run, but he had come to an open meadow filled with wild indigo and sea thistle; he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Hey, don't tell me you're tired already…" Mal started to tease when she caught up but then saw what grabbed his attention. Jay and Evie had joined them, looked up to see what their friends were enthralled with.
All Four of them were speechless, their breath caught in their throat, the night had cleared and with the absence of clouds they saw the stars. They stood in awe of what they had been missing all their lives.
The sky was not something most talked about on the Isle. It was one thing among many they had lost. There was an entire generation on the island that had never known a clear night's sky.
"It's beautiful," Evie whispered in wonder.
They had never seen anything as black, with blazing stars scattered throughout; a haze of blues, purples, turquois, and white swathing the heavenly canvas. They had to be miles from the school or anything that resembled civilization. They felt for the first time, truly free from anything and in their own new and undiscovered universe.
It was the first time any of them felt the true magic of the world, they were surrounded by vivid color and the scents of nature; reviving their senses that had known nothing but the pollution and stale air of the island.
Where they were, it was how the world was supposed to be.
They were moved and humbled by how vast the world was, now that they were somewhere other than the small little domain of the Isle. A sweet ache pulsed in their chest at seeing something so pure and untainted.
The sheer beauty of it had tears rolling down all their eyes.
"We're free," Evie said, truly believing it for the first time. She wasn't on the island. She wasn't under the thumb of her mother. They were away from the school with its thick book of rules and disappointed princesses and adults. She knew they would have to go back, but in that blissful moment, they were free. She felt the itch of her hand wanting to cover her mouth, but with her other she had held it strongly. Willing herself not to cover the smile that emerged and threatened to split her face with its force.
A smile that wasn't beguiling, flirting with some random boy because that's what growing up with Ravenna and whores taught her to do. A smile that wasn't sarcastic, vindictive, or hiding some other emotion she wasn't allowed to have because the Isle of the Lost demanded only the strong and vicious survived.
She smiled because she was happy, and that was all.
Laughter bubbled from deep inside her as it seemed so ridiculous that at seventeen she was genuinely smiling from happiness for the first time.
Mal joined in her laughter, feeling that seeing her friend truly smile without worrying about repercussions was worth whatever they would face in Auradon. She pulled in her best friend, feeling the need to hug her.
Jay and Carlos, also joined in the group hug, not wanting to be left out. They too knew the significance of Evie's smile.
They were four free teens, happy to be with their friends and enjoying a starlit sky.
Hope you all liked it, please review!