Chapter 7

Somehow Mal managed to get switched out of their Runes in the Developing World class. It was the only class Evie shared with any members of their gang today. Now she's all alone every Tuesday and Thursday. Unless she can get one of her own classes switched for a better one, or at least one with one of her friends in it. It can't be that hard. Mal did it with ease. It's something to think about after class.

Evie takes a quick scan around the classroom. There are quite a few empty seats available. The key is to try not to take a seat that has previously been claimed by a student who has yet to show up. While she is aware this isn't the Isle of the Lost, she wound rather not have a repeat of the last time she sat in the wrong seat. To her surprise there are some familiar faces in the class. Evie settles for the open seat beside Lonnie as opposed to the one Doug is offering. She'd much rather not be in his presence for longer than necessary. She plays it off as if she didn't notice him.

"Morning Lonnie. Is this seat taken? Do you mind if I sit here?" Evie gestures to the seat beside her.

"Oh Evie! Hi, good morning." Lonnie smiles brightly. "Yes, of course. I'd love the company. There are no assigned seats in this class."

Evie gratefully takes the seat.

As the last of the students enter the class, she catches the eye of a handsome blonde. It does not go unnoticed by Evie. She does her best not to be obvious she's staring back. He looks familiar. She recognizes him from tourney practice yesterday, but it's more than that. Maybe he's her true love? It would be a cherry on top if he turns out to be a Prince. Even to a small Kingdom. Her mom wouldn't mind if he's third in line, would she?

The Princess straightens up when he sits at the opposite end of their table, back to the board. She has a perfect line of sight of him through all the chemistry beakers and supplies. Evie blushes hard when he smiles at her. Oh, she's been caught, but he doesn't seem to mind in the slightest seeing that he was the one staring first.

Class begins. Evie is lucky she is fairly good at chemistry already, because she finds herself very distracted from the lesson. She can't stop fantasizing about who he could be and how great they'd look together. On one side of her notebook, she copies the notes the teacher writes on the board. On the other side she takes the time to write down as many spells and their ingredients she can recall from her mother's spell books. It's the perfect solution. Auradon made it very clear they frown upon magic and the study of it. Should anyone see her with these spells they will simply believe it's her chemistry notes. And they are. She had not realized how similar they relate to each other. No one would be the wiser. This still does not stop her from doodling in the free spaces, images of hearts and everything related to love and romance. She simply cannot get that boy out of her head.

Evie risks another glance at him. He is copying notes from the person beside him, another tourney member from the looks of it. She leans in close to Lonnie to whisper to her. "Any chance he's in line for a throne? Anywhere in line?" She has to know.

The other girl looks up to see who she is referring to and scoffs. "You mean Chad? Prince Charming junior. Cinderella's son."

Evie gasps and recognition. She's seen him a million times on the Auradon news network back home. He looks different in person, better even.

Lonnie continues. "He inherited his parent's charm but not a lot of there, there, you know what I mean?"

Oh, she doesn't mind that. She's from the isle, she doesn't need to be coddled. She can handle herself. Besides, there's a lot she is willing to put up with, with Chad being the crown Prince to the second largest and influential kingdoms in all of Auradon. To think of it, she could be the next queen of Charmington. The only way she could do better would be to marry Ben, but he's already taken. From the looks of it, Chad is not. And she's caught his attention.

"Looks like there, there to me." Evie replies as she sighs on the table. She can already see her future now. They'll be engaged by graduation and have a massive wedding after he finishes his higher education. And they'd honeymoon on a tropical island somewhere or maybe not. She had more than enough islands to last a lifetime. Maybe they could travel to Agrabah, or where Lonnie's from, or oh they could go to Germonia and see the apple blossom festival. She could even be crowned apple blossom maiden. Could she still be a maiden if she is married?

"Evie." Her chemistry teacher snaps her from her wonderings. Mr. Deeley, she thinks his name is. She is certain he has to have some goblin in his family history somewhere. He is in dire need of a beauty day with his greasy hair and oily skin. And not in a freshly moisturized way either. He stands over Chad's shoulder glaring at her. At least he called her by her actual name. A couple of her teachers from yesterday refused to use her name. They kept referring to her as villain kid. "Perhaps this is all review for you. So, tell me, is this what is the average atomic weight of silver?"

A low murmur erupts from the class. He is putting her on the spot. She clearly has not been paying attention. Evie has no idea how his question relates to what he'd last been teaching. She glances past him at the board. Nope. No hints there.

"Atomic weight?" Evie laughs off her discomfort. "Well, not much. I mean, it's an atom, right?" That earns a few Snickers from her classmates including Chad. She smiles sweetly at him.

Their teacher on the other hand is not impressed. He gestures for her to come to the front.

Evie internally sighs. She ignores Lonnie's pity apology and stands from her chair. She's sure she could figure it out with some time, but it doesn't appear to be in abundance at the moment. Without anyone seeing, Evie grabs her magic mirror on her way to the front. She takes the offered piece of chalk from the teacher in turns to the board. He wants to embarrass her, well, she will not give him that pleasure.

With her magic mirror hidden from everyone but herself, she asks: "How do I find the average atomic weight for silver?" She gives her teacher a cheeky look before continuing. That would be 106.905 times 0.5200, plus 108.905 times 0.4800. Which Mr. Deeley, would give us 107.9 AMU." Evie returns the piece of chalk to a properly chastised teacher.

"I forget. Always a mistake to underestimate a-"

"A lady?" Evie offers innocently. "A villain?" She continues in a darker tone. She is not letting him off the hook so easily. How dare he try to embarrass her. She's had more than enough of that in her other classes. He will not do it in front of her future husband. "Don't make it again."

On her way back to her spot Chad not so subtly slips her folded piece of paper. Her heart flutters in her chest. Oh boy. This is everything she's dreamed of. The two of them keep eye contact the entire way back to her seat. Evie breaks eye contact long enough to read his note.

Meet me under

the bleachers

at 3

Right after class and before the scheduled time to be ready for their interviews. She could do that. All she has to do is figure out a way to get away from Mal or even Jay long enough to get to him. Evie looks to Chad and gives him a nod. She will figure out the how later. She doesn't even pretend to pay attention to the rest of the lesson as she daydreams about her and Chad's future.


This art class is the only class she has had any interest in since arriving at this school. She'll like it even more when their teacher finishes with the lesson, and they can actually draw. A bonus is having the Fairy Godmother's anxious daughter as a classmate. Mal doubts the girl knows what the teacher is talking about considering she is too busy eyeing her every 2 minutes from the opposite side of the semicircle the teacher has them in. There's only about 10 of them in the class total. It's not hard to stand out.

Surprisingly this has been her most chill class. No outwardly hostile looks or remarks. No passive aggressive attitudes. No terrified looks. Well, except for Jane. The poor thing. This is exactly why when they are finally able to move to the easels, she takes the one next to Jane.

The shy fairy sends the teacher a panicked look. But she isn't paying her any attention.

Mal smiles at the girl in a very Auradon way. Superficial and over the top. "Hi. Jane, right?" She says in the nicest voice she can muster. As much as she likes to tease the girl, Mal needs to get close enough to Jane to get her to spill information about the magic wand. "I always loved that name. Jane."

"That's cool." Jane grabs her supplies preparing to move.

"Don't go!" Mal shouts, grabbing the attention of the teacher and the rest of the class.

Mrs. Porter frowned at the two of them. "I don't mind the chatter, but let's try to keep our voices to a minimum."

"Sorry ma'am." Jane squeaks

"Of course, Mrs. Porter." Mal smiles at the old woman before turning her attention back to Jane. "I guess, I was just kind of hoping to make a friend. You probably have all the friends you need already though, huh?"

"Hardly."

Mal revels in Jane's relaxing posture. "Really? Even with your mom being the fairy godmother and headmistress? I mean, not to mention your own…" She gestures to the girl, failing to find anything likable about her features or attire. "...Personality." She settles on. They like that, right? Being good on the inside?

"I'd rather be pretty." Jane frowns and makes herself a harsh mark on her paper. "You've got great hair." She admits.

Mal pauses her own drawing to run her fingers through her hair, a new idea coming to her. She smirks. "You know what? I have just the thing for that." She reaches into her backpack for her spell book.

Jane gasps at the sight of it. "Is that a spell book?"

"Oh brother. Don't tell me you're afraid of a little magic too."

"No. No. It's not that, I just. Not here." She says nervously looks around.

Mal sighs, a tad frustrated it would take even longer to get the info she wants but agrees. She tucks her book safely in her bag.

"We can meet after school by the shed in the garden. No one goes out there."

"See you then."

"Class." Mrs. Porter grabs everyone's attention. "For the last five minutes of class I'd like to go over your final project assignment. It will be a medium of your choice, but it must follow the theme: past, present, future. I'd like for you all to have thumbnails of your ideas by next class. I will officially assign the project to you then."


Carlos and Jay both share a free period after lunch and decide to spend it in the library. It is much busier than it was last night. There was a class happening in one of the side rooms, students sit at desks either getting a head start on homework or studying, and there are plenty people who use this time socialize. Carlos considers properly checking out the journal they stole but thinks better of it. At least this way they don't have to worry about turning it in on time.


The only reason they are here is because they need to use one of the computers. The laptop Jay stole died because he did think to take the charger as well. Carlos doesn't mind. They still have access to the computers in the library and he can use the laptop for parts. His main goal is to get in and out with the information he came for as quickly as possible. The crowds make him uneasy. He never liked them on the isle, and he likes them even less on Auradon.


They pick one of the computers located in one of the secluded areas of the library.


"What are we doing back here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be practicing with that prince?" Jay asks pacing behind Carlos as he types.


The younger teen lets out an irritated grumble. "We're meeting after classes tomorrow. I'd rather focus my time on this."


"And what is this exactly?"


"Auradon has the internet and with it we can look up almost anything we want. I'm hoping to find some information about Istrum Enzymar." Carlos explains. "Maybe we can find where he lives or a way to get in contact with him."


"Good thinking." Jay gives his shoulder a pat.


"So, it says here that Istrum was a part of the Scientific Society of Auradon. He was barred from the group 20 years ago for experimenting with an illegal mix of science and magic. After that there's no more information about him."

The boys are quiet for a moment. Other students go about their business, passing them by. They're mostly avoided, but those who are bolder stare with curiosity or disgust from afar. Carlos does his best to tune them out. No matter how much he tells himself it's no different from the isle, deep down he knows it is. At least on the isle things were a controlled chaos. From the moment they were accepted into Auradon Prep things have been turning on his head. Diego was kidnapped for crying out loud. There's absolutely nothing he can do about it. Who knows if his cousin is making it out alive? Now Evie and Mal are dying from this unknown magical disease. It won't be long before the people of Auradon turn their backs on them. The program is a death sentence.


Carlos sighs into his hands. He really doesn't want to be here. He misses the isle. At least there, there was only one thing he was truly afraid of. Here? Everything makes him jump.


"We can track down the scientists and see if they know where we can find Enzymar. Then we'll shake him down for the cure." Jay declares and takes a seat in the chair beside Carlos.

He nods. It's not perfect, but it's a start.

He looks to Jay contemplating whether or not to ask the question that's on his mind since he found out. "What are we going to tell the girls?" They deserve to know, right?"

"We don't tell them shit." Jay punctuates his point with a stab of his pocketknife to the table. "We tell them nothing about any of this until we have the cure. There's no need to worry them if it can be avoided. If any of us die, it will be in the battle for the freedom of the isle."

The younger teen admires Jay's confidence in this. He wishes he had even a fraction of that.

Carlos takes a breath and straightens up. "OK. I guess we better find where the other scientists are hiding."


The garden is much bigger than Mal anticipated. It has a section for outdoor classes, a pavilion likely used for special events, a vegetable garden, and the entire place is filled with what looks like an infinite number of flowers shrubs and trees. It is disgusting how much Auradon has. And this is just the school. What the hell do they have outside of these walls? Clearly more than enough to feed everyone on the aisle 10 times over.

Mal takes another lap around the greenhouse. The young fairy has yet to show up. She wonders briefly if she's chickened out, she wouldn't put it past her. Though, technically the other girl isn't late yet. Mal did arrive early on purpose. She likes to get familiar with the surroundings. She makes a mental note of her potential exits in case this ends up being a setup and she needs an escape. Hades. Things really couldn't be simple.

"M-Mal?" A squeaky voice calls.

Mal steps from around the greenhouse to meet Jane on the designated path.

"Oh good. You're here."

"You thought I'd be the one to bail?" Mal raises an eyebrow.

Jane takes a tentative step towards Mal and lowers her voice. "So, you um you practice magic?"

"Yeah." Mal considers the girl for a moment. She seems different from before. There's this look in her eye. It's not dissimilar to many children back home. There is a spark of rebellion hidden deep within the younger teen. Mal has every intention of feeding it and using it to her advantage.

"Now, do you want me to make you prettier or not?"

"I do! I do."

Mal rolls her eyes as the girl's desperation. Hades, could she make this any easier? The young Fae opens her spell book to the bookmark page and begins. There is no point in wasting time. She knows it will work. She'd spent her last class finding the best words. Her mother's spell book is best described as a spell guide more than a step-by-step example. The potions are straightforward, but the spoken spells are a little less so. They vary between casters. "Beware, forswear, replace the old with brand new hair."

Mal waves a finger in Jane's direction and watches as the spell takes place. The young fairy's hair grows into beautiful, curled tresses across her shoulder. The color deepens into a dark rich brown that contrasts perfectly with her eyes. It is amazing how a simple hairstyle or cut can really change the appearance of a person. The girl looks better, at least by Auradon standards.

Jane rushes to the mirrored sculpture towards the edge of the garden and gasps at her reflection. Mal stands beside her and mocks the other girl's excitement. "Wow you almost don't notice your other features." She smiles cruelly.

Jane taps Mal's spell book. "Do my nose next."

"Oh. I can't". Mal says with a false sadness. "I've been practicing, but you know, I can't do big Magic. Not like your mother with her wand. I mean one whoosh from that thing and you could have whatever features you wanted."

"She doesn't use the wand anymore." Mal watches intently as the hope slips out of the other girl. "She believes the real magic is in the books, regular books with history and stuff."

Mal scoffs. "What a rip."

"Yeah. I've always wanted to learn magic myself." The younger girl motions to the book in Mal's hand. "I want to be a wish granting fairy like my mother, but she refuses to let me learn." She begins pacing along the path.

"You don't say."

"Since magic is discouraged, she doesn't see a point in it. I mean, who else will there be to take over fairy godmother duties when she retires?"

"Your mom is known to occasionally use magic, like putting up the barrier. I mean, she used magic on Cinderella who wasn't even her real daughter. Doesn't she love you?"

Jane straightens at that. "Well of course she does. It's- it's just, you know tough love. Work on the inside and not the outside. You know. That sort of thing."

"What does she disapprove of you doing more? Learning magic or becoming beautiful." The fae slinks around Jane.

"Definitely learning magic. The last time I brought it up she threatened to take away my at-home-wing-privileges."

"That's the face!" Mal exclaims pointing at Jane's pout. "Yeah, and just look as if your heart is about to break. She holds up a finger as she prepares to give an example "Oh. Mother, I simply want to be a great fairy spreading peace and happiness like you do. Wouldn't you please let me learn magic. And when she says no, go for the smaller request. Then, I just don't understand why you can't make me beautiful too."

"Think it would work?"

"Oh yeah." Jane has the perfect pouty face it definitely could. "I mean that's what old Cindy did and her mother bippity boppity booed the living daylights out of her. And hey if your mom does decide to, you know break out the old wand, invite me."

"If I can convince mom, you're so there."

"Yay." Mal gives her halfhearted cheer.

"I got to get ready for the press conference and so do you. I'll see you later. Thank you, Mal." The now lively fairy tosses over her shoulder as she makes her way to the exit.

Mal smirks to herself. Oh, this is turning out perfectly.


Evie does her best to calm her racing heart as Chad leads her under the bleachers. She tells herself to focus on anything other than his warm hand in hers. It's larger too. They're like a puzzle piece. They fit perfectly together. She tries to focus her mind on the sounds of a practice taking place on the field or how easy it was to slide under Mal's radar to get here. The Fae luckily had something else to do which worked out perfectly for Evie.

She comes back to the present when Chad stops. He rubs his thumb across the back of her hand and takes a long look at her. She blushes heavily under his gaze. She really needs to get her nerves under control. The redness in her face and neck will do nothing for her complexion.

"Is everyone back home as pretty as you?" He asks and Evie comes to terms with the simple fact that he makes her weak.

"I've been told I'm the fairest of them all." She clearly agrees seeing how she has it printed on her shirt. But she must maintain an appearance of humility. Now, for the heavy hitter questions. "How many rooms are in your castle?"

The prince scoffs. "Too many to count."

Oh, he's perfect. Mother will love him. Evie takes a chance and leans closer to him.

"You know you really nailed that chemistry problem today." Evie takes a step back and frowns. Chemistry? Why on earth is he talking about chemistry? "You're going to have all the nerds in love with you."

The Princess gasps in disbelief. She would rather have all the princes in love with her. Peasants are a given. That doesn't mean she wants them. "I'm not that smart." She tries. And she really isn't. She got the correct answer when she tried it on her own, but she never would have figured it out as fast as she pretended to in class.

"Oh, come on."

"Really I'm not." She needs to salvage this conversation somehow. "But I am really good at sewing and cooking, and cleaning. You know, like your mother, Cinderella. Without the ratty dress."

Evie reaches into her bag for her mirror and shows it to Chad. "See this? If I ask it where anything is it'll tell me."

"Are you kidding me?" Chad perks with genuine interest.

"No."

The prince snatches the mirror from her hand and holds it to his ear like a phone. "Where is my cell phone?"

Smile never leaving her face, Evie taps Chad on the shoulder to regain his attention. "It won't work for you silly."

"Oh. No biggie. He hands the mirror back to her. "My dad will just get me a new one."

"Prince Charming." Evie recalls wistfully.

"Yes."

"With Cinderella and fairy godmother."

"Yeah." He's finally moving closer to her. Hates herself for what she's about to do, but now would be the prime opportunity.

"Hey, I heard the wand in some boring museum. Do they always leave it there?"

Oh boy. She's got him under her spell. He's so close to her now, she can count his eyelashes. And they really do complement his eyes. It should be illegal to be this handsome.

Chad shakes his head as if to pull himself from distraction. Damn. Maybe she is not as good as she thought. "I'd really like to talk, but.." He sighed heavily into the metal beam behind him. Evie frowns at his dramatics. "I'm just swamped with all the projects for school and the program and princely duties there's just no time in the day anymore. Unless."

"Unless?" She prompts.

"If you could knock out all my homework along with yours, then maybe we could get together sometimes, hang. I mean, only the best girlfriends do it."

Evie straightens at that. "OK." She agrees easily.

"Thanks babe." He flashes a brilliant smile and winks before taking his leave.

"Yeah. Bye."

"I couldn't help but overhear-"

Evie startles at the presence suddenly Beside her. That boy, the dwarf from chemistry peaks at her from above, in between the bleachers. "Are you stalking me?" She interrupts, but it doesn't seem to slow him much.

"Technically, yes." He begins sliding his thin body in between the benches.

"I, too, have a fascination with fairy godmothers wand. Which is another reason I look forward to coronation." He's face to face with her now in the same spot Chad left only moments ago. "Perhaps we could sit next to each other and discuss its attributes?"

Evie smirks at the break in his voice. Chad was right, the nerds really are just putty in her hands. Being alone with him makes her uncomfortable, but she has to remember she has the power in this interaction. She slides closer to him. "Are you saying they use it in the coronation?"

"Yes. And asking you out?" Doug, she thinks his name is, puffs out his chest and smiles goofily at her.

She fights an eye roll. Boys are so predictable. It's almost cute, too bad the way he eyes hair leaves chills along her spine. And not the good kind. Evie simply laughs at the attempt and walks away. She'll have to hold on to this information for later. There is no time to think about it now. She has a press conference to attend.


His palms were sweating again. Ben paces the width of the back room connected to the palace's media room where the conference will be held. He really shouldn't be as nervous as he is. The conference should be no longer than 45 minutes in total, but a lot can go wrong in 45 minutes. This will be the first time Auradon will meet the faces of the villain kids. He doesn't know how they will react upon seeing who he's brought over. Audrey and Chad didn't have the best of reactions and they fully support him in his program. His parents definitely don't support this program and the people of Auradon know this. It will be an uphill battle. Ben just hopes that his kingdom can see them as more than their parents' children.

Fanette, a woman far younger than majority of the staff in Beast Palace, burst into the room followed by the 4 VKs. "This is what we call the green room. It's where you'll prepare for the conference and where you'll come after it's done." The Royal Media organizer speaks quickly. "Over here are outfits for you to choose for the event."

Evie is the first to skip over to the rack of clothes. She shifts through a couple of dresses before glancing down at her own dress and frowns. Ben mimics her expression. There's nothing wrong with her dress or any of their clothes for that matter. It looks like they'd all put in effort into looking the part. He recognizes this just may be their best clothes.

"No. No need for all of that." Ben speaks up and guides Evie away from the rack. "They can wear their own clothes. Let them be as they are. I want the world to see them for them. No need to create a character." He doesn't want them feeling their best isn't good enough for Auradon or that they needed to be anything but themselves.

"Are you sure about this? There will be an official photoshoot afterwards." Fanette says with concern.

"Yes."

"If you are sure your highness." She agrees, though the look on her face says otherwise. "Are all of you aware what is taking place in just a few moments?"

"Not really." Mal folds her arms in disinterest. "All we know is that is has something to do with us and Ben's program but other than that we have no idea what the fuck is going on. Care to elaborate Princy-boy?"

Ben heats slightly under their gaze. Perhaps he hadn't been as open and clear as he thought. He didn't want to over explain things to them and be seen as patronizing so much so, that he may have under shot their needs a bit. This is a learning experience for them all and he could do better. He will do better. He has to.

"Well," Ben begins. "This is a Royal press conference. Today's goal is to introduce you to Auradon seeing they do not know who was brought over from the isle. There's been a lot of confusion about who you all are and the intention of the program. We are here to answer their questions."

"And we're needed for this?" Jay questions. "Can't you answer them yourself?"

"They'll have questions for you too. We want the world to see that you aren't your parents or villains."

"But we are. Inherited villainy and all that." Carlos comments as he absently waves his hand noticing for the fist time, the refreshments table.

"Inherited Vil- What? No." The prince dismisses the concept. "You guys are children of villains, but you yourselves are not villains. You haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why do you call us villains?" He asks innocently, stuffing a pastry into his mouth.

Ben opens his mouth to respond only to realize he doesn't have an answer. Has he really not noticed before? Is he apart of the problem? Here he is trying to get the rest of Auradon to see them as something other than villains and he's been advertising a program to help the villain children on the isle. What huge error on his part. No wonder they don't trust him. He's been othering them since they arrived. A huge fail on his part.

"While the realization of your own privilege amuses me, I'd like to get this over with." Mal breaks the silence. She moves toward the door, but is stopped by Fanette.

"Hold on dear. There are a few rules we need to go over before I can let you out there." She takes the briefest of glances at her notebook before continuing. "Please don't threaten anyone. Try not to raise your voices too much, there will be microphones. No explicit language or gestures. And let's try to refrain from any talk of your parents' past deeds. You will stay for at least half an hour afterwards. There will be photoshoot and people who'd like to speak to you all privately."

Everyone nods in confirmation.

"Great. If we're all ready, let's begin." Fanette opens the door to the media room and gestures for them to walk through.

Ben is the first one through the door. The room erupts in murmurs and camera shutters. He's grown quite used to these things. He's stood by his parents' side as they addressed the public on numerous occasions, but this is the first time he is addressing Auradon himself. And he's doing it on his own. He thinks briefly this is a bad idea, but there's no going back now.

He wipes his sweaty hands on a handkerchief and makes his way to the table on a small platform at the front of the room. Something causes him to pause at his seat. Ben is surprised to see a single throne set to the side away from the reporters for viewing. In the throne was his mother. Beside her stood her personal advisor, ladies' maid, and security. But she was here. There's hope for the program yet. He gives a short nod to his mother before taking his seat. The VKs follow his lead sitting in front of the their names. He sits in the middle, Carlos and Evie to his left and Mal and Jay to his right.

"My heavens. They're just children." A woman in the crowd gasps.

Ben hums. They are off to an interesting start. He clears his throat to grab everyone's attention. "Good people of Auradon I welcome you to my program's first royal press conference."

They clap.

"Now to introduce you to whom all this is for. To my left are Carlos DeVille, 14, son of Cruella DeVille and Evelyn White, 15, daughter of the former Queen Grimhilde and to my right are Mal, 16, daughter of Maleficent and Jay, 16, son of former Vizier Jafar." The room erupts in chatter and protests. Still he carries on. "I hope you will welcome them with open arms. They deserve all the same opportunities as any kid who grew up on this side of the border. This conference is to introduce the program and its children to the people, to allow your questions to be answered, and dispel any misconceptions that there may be."

"Where is his majesty the king?"

Ben bristles at the question. Why is the first question asked about his father? He is aware of the answer they are hoping for and won't give it to them. "Attending to his other duties I assume. He is the king of Auradon and as such I'm sure he has his own programs and policies he'd like to see to completion before the end of his reign. This however is my program that I am heading as a test for my first proclamation as king."

"But you are not king yet."

"No, but I am your crown prince. It will do you all well to remember that." He hates showboating his title, but he will not be disrespected in his own home. As a leader it is his job to set the tone of the conference. Comments such as these will not be tolerated. "Now are there any questions about the program?"

The next question comes from a woman in the second row. "What prompted this program? Why the isle kids not, lets say the kids from Noglil?"

"Thank you for that question. The prompt to begin this program was out of a need to do the right thing. During my time preparing for my transition from prince to king I've learned many things about our kingdoms, one of them being an island full of children forced to pay for crimes that they never committed." Ben feels the others a the table shift. He has to remind himself that they aren't hypotheticals or metaphors used in conversion. These are actually human beings with true emotions and feelings. While he wants to answer these questions as straightforward as he can, he is also aware that he needs to cautious of their feelings. "I felt that they needed my attention now and there's no time like the present."

There's a small applause before the reporter asks her follow up questions. "Yes, that's wonderful. But do you plan to help the people of Noglil? Why villains over your own people?" That got a few murmurs from the crowd.

Ben is aware of the very unfortunate situation Noglil has found itself if in. It's a very small village that borders the kingdoms West Hude and East Hude who until very recently were at war with one another. The village became a neutral ground for rounding up or paying off able bodied men and women to fight at the frontlines and many times a battle field, leaving children orphaned. Without most of their strongest people the village struggles to build itself back up, their population now has more homeless children than adults, and their resources are spread thin from lack of farmers. The situation is awful. However, they are not who he came to talk about. And says as much to the reporter.

"I am not putting one people's struggles over another's. That is not fair to anyone. Of course, I intend to help them. Some of their nearby kingdoms do as well. Let me ask you this: what neighboring kingdom does the isle have looking out for it?

"To constantly bring up Noglil while discussing this program is not fair to the kids sitting here or the thousands of kids on the isle. But to say that the struggling kids on the Isle of the Lost are not my people is false. The people of the isle are my people. As Prince of Auradon it is a duty to protect and severe all of Auradon, including the children on that island. Next question."

Ben let's out a heavy sigh away from the microphone and gives Mal a supportive smile. He could feel her staring at him suspiciously since the follow up question was asked. In fact, he could feel all of their gazes on him. He doesn't think he's quite earned their trust just yet. He will do everything in his power to be worthy of it.


The lights are bright when they enter the media room. No one out right yelled at them, but somehow the murmuring is worse. Carlos feels like an insect under a microscope. He does his best not to squirm under their gazes. It's unclear how many people are in the room. The lights facing them make it nearly impossible to see out into the crowd. Ben doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Hades, what if there are more of them out there and the lights are there to confuse them? Could this be some kind of elaborate attack? Oh gods, they brought them here to die. Is this some kind sick Auradonian public execution? This is live on all Auradon news channels. It will be broadcast to the isle. His mother is going to watch him die. Who could be so cruel? It'll send her into a fit. The isle won't survive it. She needs him. He can't stay here. He has to leave. The room is too small with too many people in it. The lights are too bright, too hot. Hades he's sweating. He needs to leave.

A cool hand rest on top of his.

It gives his a squeeze and grounds him to something. Someone. He stares down at the hand, then at the person it belongs to. Evie.

He watches the slow rise and fall of her chest and mimics her steady breathing. The room expands only slightly and the lights dim. The heat around his face cools some, but it still there. She motions for him to take a sip of the water offered on the table. He does. He even manages not to shake the glass.

Damn. That's much better.

She gives him a look as if to ask: "better?" He nods and squeezes her hand before letting it go altogether.

Carlos looks over to Ben to hear him talking about them and how they are also a part of Auradon. He never thought of the logistics, but it makes sense. The isle, while separated from all of Auradon cannot truly be it's own independent state even though it often works like one. From Auradon's standpoint it is simply a prison.

The next questions are once again for Ben. Things like: What is the purpose of the program? To integrate the kids into order of society, to get them away from potentially abusive homes, to educate them?

Have you thought about the villain children who have grown out of the school age? Or the ones who are too young for school?

Do you worry about any of the villain children holding grudges and acting out when they come over?

Carlos has to fight an eye roll at the last one. Jay was right, they really aren't needed for this. He has no desire to be used as some photo opportunity for these royals. There are other things he could be doing. This program is nice in theory, but Ben clearly has a lot to work to do for it to properly function. Though he will admit he's thought through more of this than he realized.

"Why don't we open up the questions to the program recipients." Ben motions to them.

Carlos takes a deep breath as he braces himself for the too personal questions and/or heckling. Even though she is an island away, Carlos reminds himself not to say anything that will upset his mother. Or Maleficent. He knows they're watching.

"What is it like on the Isle of the Lost?" Someone asks to all of them.

"It's a paradise." Mal sarcastically purrs into the mics with roll of her eyes, causing the group of them to chuckle. Their audience remains quiet. Tough crowd. Apparently, they expect a real answer before moving one. "It's an overpopulated island made up of your trash. What do you expect It's like? Next question." Mal snaps at them. They shift uncomfortably under her scowl. Carlos is grateful he isn't on the receiving end of it for once.

"H-how do you like it here in Auradon?" A brave reporter asks the group.

None of them jump on the opportunity to answer.

Mal answers again. "Well, it too bright for one." She shields her eyes from the bright lights directed at them. That, they laugh at. It seems someone was listing because the slights above them dim to a bearable degree. Everyone on the platform visibly relaxes. Even Ben lets out a sigh of relief. "Thanks whoever did that."

"Why did you choose to come to Auradon? Why accept the offer?"

"Choose." Jay grumbles into the mic. "Again with that would. Choose." He pushes himself from the table with a shake of his head and folds his arms.

Mal steps in to answer the question yet again. "Well, you can't really turn from an invitation from the king, now can you?"

The room chuckles awkwardly sensing the need to move on. Jay, however, continues his rant. "Since we have so many choices in Auardon, I want to ask the next question."

"Jay, that's not how this works." The prince politely informs and is ignored.

"Why is it, in a place that has all the resources a person can dream of and the supposed magical cure to every sickness under the sun, is there no cure for Ernivum?"

"What's Ernivum?" Ben asks. He, Mal, and Evie look at him curiously. There's concern in the blue-haired girl's eyes that gives him pause. Carlos waits expectantly for his explanation.

Jay deflates. He'd gotten himself too worked up and nearly exposed a weakness to all of Auradon. He has to get himself together. He chuckles nervously into the microphone. "I was uh, doing some reading in the school's library and read about Auradon's many cures and treatments to some of the deadliest illnesses. I was a tad disappointed when I learned that not everything could be treated. That's all. Though, if anyone ever wants to talk about new discoveries, I'm willing to listen."

That got him a few claps. Gosh Auradon is easy to manipulate.

Carlos is a little disappointed Jay didn't go through with it. Was this his big plan to get answers? He can understand why he didn't, but it might have been their best chance of finding help for their friends. Guess it's back to the drawing board.

The next question is about school, and Evie is the one who supplies an answer in the most regal way possible. No matter what these Auradon fools say, Evie is a true princess.

Carlos is distracted by movement to the left of the crowd. It's where the sign language interpreter stood. After watching for a minute, he realizes its not dissimilar to what is used on the isle. Carlos wouldn't say he fluent, he can definitely hold his own in a conversation. He learned at a young age from a deaf kid back when he used to hang out with Uma before the split. He wonders if that kid is watching now? Can he understand what's happening without interpretation?

He begins to mimic the movements of the interpreter, replacing words that are signed differently on the isle. That's when he notices the photographer. The man stands directly in front of the deaf journalists blocking her view of the interpreter. Rude. The interpreter moves to be better seen, but the camera man follows. This happens a few times before the interpreter tries to explain the situation. The guy doesn't seem to catch on. It frustrates Carlos to now end. It's not difficult to grasp. "Just move!" Carlos shouts at the man.

The room stills. All eyes are on him. He shrinks at the attention. He hadn't meant to say that out loud and definitely didn't mean to shout it into the mic. "You've gotta move dude. You're blocking the interpreter." Carlos speaks calmer to the photographer.

The guy finally seems to catch on and moves out of the way with an embarrassed apology. The interpreter and journalists both thank him. He replies in sign and they smile brightly at him. "As you were." Carlos says in the hopes that he can remove the attention from himself.

For the next few questions, Carlos happily sits back and lets his gang answer. That is until:

"Weren't there supposed to be five children brought over? Where is the 5th kid?" A reporter asks.

"Well-" Ben Starts.

"He was kidnapped." Carlos answers bluntly. He doesn't trust Ben or any of them to answer honestly. That Diego is his cousin. "Hours before we were set to leave, he was taken and is likely fighting for his life while we're stuck over here trying to get a better education." He shakes off Evie's supportive hand on his shoulder and turns from the crowd. He really needs to get himself together. He cannot afford to be weak in Auadon. His mother is watching for Hades's sake. "The Isle of the Lost is no playground. It's not built for the weak. We've all seen and experienced things that you couldn't fathom even in your worst nightmare. There's a reason you're all afraid of the island. Of us." Carlos blinks away a traitorous tear. He looks away from the blinding lights and past Ben towards Mal and Jay. There's an understanding that passes between them. Plan Z. No time for weakness. They're playing the long game. It may be the only way they might save his cousin. But they need to make Auradon hurt along the way.

Jay gives the slightest nod before clearing his throat and addressing the crowd. "You all are afraid that we'll retaliate. That we'll do to you what you did to us. That maybe, you're the villains in our story. Don't worry, we won't make you suffer, much." The silence in the room that follows is deafening. "It's a joke. We not going to do anything to y'all. We're here for an education, right guys?"

The group of them nod and chuckle falsely.

Ben clears his throat. "We have time for maybe one or two more questions before the end conference." At that most of the room raise their hands in hopes of getting to ask the last question.

Ben picks the journalist from the beginning. "Do you plan to reconnect with family while you're here?"

Evie clears her throat to speak, but everyone definitely heard Carlos' murmur of "what family" that slips past his lips. She doesn't give them time to ponder it and answers the question. "I don't think we'll have much time for anything other than school. We're only here for the last half of the semester. Right, Prince Ben? I know you Auradonians can't wait to ship us back." She laughs sweetly at her own joke, though there is a seriousness to the statement not missed by many.

"Well, that includes the Isle program's first royal press conference. Thank you all for attending. Be blessed and travel well." Ben stands and motions for them the rise as well. They follow him towards the prep room they came from initially.

Carlos is just glad it's all over. He's had enough of Auradon for the day and enough socializing to last a lifetime. If he feels like this, he can't imagine what Mal must be feeling. She hates crowds. Gods, she going to be irritable the entire ride back to campus.

He's only barely made it into the room when: "Carlos!" An unfamiliar voice calls for him, catching the attention of others.

Carlos seizes at the sight of her. He has to do a double take and a third. Surly his eyes are deceiving him. It has to be some form of Auradon magic. But what would be the logic in that? Why try to throw them off their game now? They already did the damn press conference. Nevertheless, it does not stop the increase in his heart rate Carlos notes. He's clammy and itching for an escape. He looks at the woman and all he can see is his mother. Sure, she's aged a few decades and lost about a foot or two of height, but everything else screams Cruella.

There is no mistaking who the woman is or the relation between the younger, taller one trailing behind her. The old woman's short statue does very little to diminish the commanding presence she has on the room. Her black and white dress suit and matching head scarf only add to her foreboding image. But that's not what bothers him, it's the older woman's perfectly arched eyebrow and how her frown pulls at her face just so, and the way the younger woman walk style nearly identically resembles someone back on the isle. The combination of the two of them halts the function in his limbs. They are like clones of his mother in various stages of her life. It's unnerving to say the least.

Perhaps they are simply fans?

"Madam DeVille." Ben gasps is recognition. "Please, both of you join us. Come in." He guides all of them in to the room.

Nope. Not fans.

Carlos' eyes seldom leave the duo. He risks a glance at his gang to see them in a similar state of bafflement. Evie more so than Jay and Mal. She looks like she's seen a ghost. Considering the circumstances, he wouldn't be surprised if she has. He's not all that positive he isn't looking at one.

DeVille.

Ben said Madam DeVille. This has to be a coincidence, right? One of Auradon's tricks? His stomach turns in uncertainty.

"Carlos, my child." Madam DeVille approaches him with her arms stretched wide. She is already too close for him to pull away. He flinches when she holds his face in her hands. He thought for sure she would strike him. Instead, she stares at him, into his eyes. It all feels too intimate, too vulnerable. Carlos can't bring himself to meet her eyes. "My name is Malevola DeVille. I'm your grandmother."

That's the moment Carlos meets eyes with her teary ones. He can see she is telling the truth. He never considered he'd have family in Auradon. The shorter, older woman pulls him into a tight embrace. He struggles to come up with coherent thoughts.

Grandmother? This is his grandmother. He has a goddamn grandmother. What the fuck?