Descendants: An Unusual Family

"What was that?" Chad turns around. He and Doug are walking through the woods, heading towards the Enchanted Lake.

"Sounded like a squirrel," the Son of Dopey answers before continuing down the path through the forest.

"Why can't we get some tap water? I mean, water's water."

"It's not just water. It's Enchanted. It's the key ingredient for the science project," the dwarf explains. "If we substitute it with anything less, then we won't pass."

The charming sighs. "I can't afford another F. My parents will take away my crown," he walks ahead of his class partner. "Lets just get this over with, Doug," after taking several steps, he notices the lack of response. "Uh, Dough?" the prince turns to find the dork missing. "Doug!? Oh, man! Evie's going to kill me. Or worse, have Mal curse me with terrible hair," he grabs his head while facing the other direction only to bump into a thin tree that he was certain wasn't there before "What the…" the looks up and lets out an earsplitting scream.

.oOo.

Audrey, Jordan, Lonnie, and Jane are gathered at a picnic table just outside of Auradon Prep when they hear the scream.

Lonnie is quick to her feet. "There's a little girl in trouble," she was about to leave when Audrey spoke up.

"Actually, it's just Chad," the princess was doing her nails. "He probably got dirt or something on his new sneakers again. I swear, my boyfriend is so vain. I don't know how I put up with him," she finishes the last touch on her nails and smiles at her work. "Perfection! I'll except nothing less," the brunette then looks over to see the stares from her friends. "What?"

Instead of answering, they turned back to previous conversation with Jane asking, "So, you're canceling your show?"

"Yeah," the Genie nods. "The videos just aren't getting the view like they used to. I need something different to get better ratings. I thought about doing what Snow White does."

"Reporting?" Audrey laughs. "Report what? Even I have to admit nothing exciting happens here in Auradon except for the usual parties and festivals. You'll have to cover something that no one else has."

"Like, what?" Jordan shrugs.

"Oh?" Lonnie takes out her phone to show her friends. "How about this?"

Jane gasps. "A giant monster was spotted!?" she reads the article preset on the phone.

"It does sound interesting," Jordan takes the device. "But I don't know. Giant monster sounds kinda out there."

"But there's even a picture," the daughter of Mulan points out. "See?"

The three girls squint their eyes at the image of tree branches with something shadowy behind them.

"I don't see anything," Audrey announces.

"Just take a closer look!"

"If we get any closer, then we'll need new eyes," Jane tells Lonnie causing her to slump.

"This is just crazy nonsense," the daughter of Sleeping Beauty tells them.

Lonnie turns to her. "Weren't you just telling us about a dragon earlier?"

"That's completely different," Audrey huffs. "It was nothing more than a bad dream. I really well detailed dream."

While looking over the article again, Jordan starts thinking. "It's at least something to look into."

.oOo.

The Core Four lead Ben and Freddie through an unmarked path of the Enchanted Forest. Though the Young King and Witch Doctor had no idea where they're going, it's apparent that Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos knew. The two eventually become more uneasy as they enter a cave but the light at the end reassured them.

The short tunnel leads them to an open area with a beach that's closed off by some cliffsides. Leading off the beach and over the water is what appears to be a freshly built dock. Further inland from the sand is what could only be assumed to have been an old shack that has a large new addition recently built onto it.

Ben steps up to the shack noticing familiar artwork of his girlfriend's handywork. "What is this place?"

Jay wraps an arm over the Young King's shoulders. "Just a little piece of the Isle here in Auradon."

"Huh?"

"You see," Evie walks up to Ben and Freddie. "Living in Auradon is often exhausting for us. Having to remind ourselves what's considered proper. From how to eat to how to talk."

Carlos pipes up. "Yeah. We understand most of the rules and even the reasons for following them. But for us VKs it can be overwhelming after a while."

"Not to mention the Auradon way sometimes gets to us," Mal confirms. "But here?" purplette gestures around them. "We can relax and unwind and live as we did on the Isle. Or at least the parts of the Isle that we actually enjoyed."

Freddie turns to her fellow VKs. "You kept this place a secret?"

Ben had to agree with her. "Yeah!"

"From me?"

"Wha…?"

"You think I don't have a hard time fitting in? It took me weeks to smile with my eyes as to not unnerve the Auradonians," the Witch Doctor huffs. "Not to mention they almost always ask if I was constipated."

"Sorry, Freddie," Mal shrugs. "We did mean to bring you in after we decided to set up here."

"Then why didn't you?" Freddie asks before feeling a hand on her should.

Jay then turns her to the beach. "We had no idea what to do about that."

In the distance there were what appeared to be two fins approaching from the water. The fins seemingly began to grow the closer they got and soon the large form of the wingless dragon rises out of the water on its hind legs and stops shortly before the dock.

Mal runs down to the dock and meets the creature at the end. "Hey, Big Guy," the Fae reaches her hand out as the monster's head leans closer to her so that the hand would be placed on his snout. "Welcome home."

End