Chapter Text
AURADON
The guitar chords fill the room, and a boy with shaggy brown hair sitting on his bed playing alone. His bedroom door swings open, bouncing off the wall, and a tall boy with blonde hair rushes in.
The boy started to pace, "Luke what the fuck was that?"
"They asked my opinion, so I answered," he said without looking up from his guitar.
The boy stopped and stared at him, "How are you so cool about this? Your parents are doing damage control trying to calm everyone down right now."
The situation Alex is referring to was an idea Luke had that he shared with his parents and their friends during dinner. Unfortunately, it wasn't very popular among them, but he didn't understand why. This wouldn't be the first time they brought kids from the Isle to Auradon. Hopefully, this time would be better than the first, with no love spells, no wand stealing, and no villains escaping through the barrier.
"Honestly I don't understand how they didn't see it coming," he paused for a moment, "I've always wanted to help kids on the Isle, it's about time somebody considered them Alex. And not just four of them, my brother started with those who needed the most help, they got help. It's time to bring more over."
Alex sighed and sat by Luke, "You know usually I would have no issue backing you up, I'm your best friend," he glanced at him before turning his gaze to his hands, "But maybe you should have talked it over with your parents first?"
Luke scoffed, "Yeah I tried that but my parents are kind of dense, they think the kids are just as bad as their parents." He stopped playing and set his guitar down, "Do you think kids are the exact carbon copies of their parents?"
"I mean if Carrie is anything to go by then no, because she can be mean sometimes," he put his hand on his chest, "Even to me and I'm one of the only people she's nice to."
"Exactly and Carrie’s mom is Cinderella, one of the nicest princesses? That does not go with Carrie. So who's to say these kids are as bad as their parents? Mal and her friends have already proved themselves to be good people, it's time we bring a new group," Luke laid back on his bed, resting his hands behind his head.
Alex rubbed his eyes, "I get it I truly do but some people downstairs aren't so happy about your-"
A girl with dirty blonde hair marched into the room and yelled, "Are you trying to get us all killed? Those kids are probably just like their parents, you can't just put the kids in Auradon and expect them to be model citizens! Why not take the whole barrier down while you're at it!"
"Even if that's what he was trying to do I don't think his parents would allow that," a girl with curly hair said from the doorway.
Luke barely spared Carrie a glance and looked at Julie, "Thank God someone has some logic around here, everyone acts like I'm letting Hades free, why would I do that? I know how bad all the villains are. It's their kids that I'm focused on. They're being mistreated just because of who their parents are, it's unfair."
"My parents don't have an issue with it, it's Carrie's and Flynn’s that have an issue with it," she looked down the hall for her friend, "Speaking of which she is still in the dining room, her parents probably didn't let her leave their side."
"Luke, you are crazy for this idea! They were raised by villains! They might come here just to overthrow us and let their parents free and then take over! it's too risky," reasoned Carrie.
"Or you just don't wanna see your cousin," Alex piped up. Luke agreed, nodding along with what his best friend said.
That was a wrong move based on the glare Carrie sent both of their way causing the boys to freeze.
"Get over yourself Carrie, you live a fantastic life in comparison to kids on the Isle and even if your mom’s step sisters had kids there are so many kids there they might not even get chosen," Julie walked into the room and sat on a chair.
Carrie scoffed, "How am I the only one who sees the problem here?"
"Probably because one of the candidates has to do with your mom's step-sister," retorted Alex.
"Okay my mom doesn't want their kids here," Carrie admitted. "But you also have to realize Flynn's parents were literally cursed by Dr.Facilier, they are going to be upset."
"Yeah and I don't think proposing the idea of bringing Gaston's kid was a good motion either," Luke said, "Especially to my parents since he tried to kill my dad, but they accepted the other kids they can do the same for these."
Julie looked at Luke, "Well it's not like you have bad intentions. It's a bit weird how your parents allowed Ben to pick any kids he wanted to bring over, but when you have a few you want to give an opportunity to? They completely shut you down."
Luke got up and started walking around the room, "I know. When my brother has an idea they hear him out, but when I do, it's a complete issue, and it was just an expansion upon his proclamation!" He grabbed his hair and pulled on it. "It's so frustrating you guys, they don't see me the same way they see my brother, if Ben was here he would agree with my idea."
"I know it's a shame he's off on a trip with Mal, but he's having fun," Alex said, getting up and walking over to Luke. "If he was here he would back you up no doubt," he rested his hand on Luke's shoulder.
Carrie stared at Alex, "Yeah probably with the other three but I doubt he will agree to allow the son of a murderer to come to Auradon."
"Did you miss the whole conversation about their kids not being their parents? And the queen of hearts never actually killed people, it's a misconception," Julie stated.
Carrie rolled her eyes, "I'm so sorry Julie let me rephrase that unlike all of the other kids mentioned, the queen of hearts threatened to kill people left and right, she's guilty of several acts of attempted murder."
"It doesn't matter Carrie!" Luke exploded, "Yes they were raised by their parents but they are people. How many times do we have to say that to you!" He was honestly fed up; it felt like the conversation with Carrie was going nowhere.
“Alright Luke there's no need to yell, let someone with a softer touch handle this," Alex grabbed carries hands. "Just because their parents are evil doesn't make them evil," he said sternly.
She glared at Alex, "I'm done with your guys crap." She ripped her hands out of Alex's hold and stormed off.
"Well, that's another thing my parents will lecture me for," Luke rolled his eyes.
On the Isle
"Reginald!" a voice screeched, "Get back here this instant!"
A boy with red streaks in his hair wearing a black leather jacket, a red t-shirt, ripped jeans, and pointed boots rushes down a flight of stairs and onto the streets.
"Thank God I got out of there before she started acting psycho," he thought as he walked towards Dr.Facilier's arcade.
His mom was slightly, that could be an understatement, crazy. When things don't go her way she gets psychotic and tries to find any way she can to take her feelings out. whether that be an innocent cup, an innocent person, or her blood depends on her mood.
Everyone has learned to stay clear of her, being forced to leave Wonderland was hard on her, and some say it contributed to her madness even more. They weren't always banned from the Isle. Reggie is one of the few VKs who have seen outside the barrier due to his mom's status as Queen of Wonderland. It's not like he remembers it, he was barely a year old when his mother was cast to the Isle due to voting of Auradon’s court. The Queen of Hearts had to be thrown on the Isle like every other villain for everyone's safety.
If you were to ask Reggie he'd probably say his mom drove everyone on the Isle away, and acting like she ruled everyone did not help. With Maleficent gone some villain had to step up to take her place, his mother thinks she's good enough, and he thinks it's all in her head.
"Reg! I was wondering when you'd get here," his friend Bobby said, running up to him. "Willie is currently giving Nick a reading, we might have some good coming our way," he gushed while dragging Reggie over to their friends.
Reggie pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat down. His friend Nick was sitting across from Willie snacking on some questionable fruit, "So you're telling me on this island something good will happen to me?"
"The cards never lie," replied Willie. "Wheel of Fortune is good, but I'd watch out for the fool because you might do something stupid." He watched as Nick ate something slimy, "But I feel like it could be talking about what you're eating."
"If he doesn't get sick I'll be amazed," Bobby looked into the bowl's contents and turned away looking sick.
"It's not like we have access to fresh and good food, you know this," Nick said. "I'll eat whatever I can, it doesn't matter how it looks."
"You will not be saying that when you eat a bad street dog," Reggie said, taking some of Willie's cards to play with.
"You had one dream about eating bad street dogs and you made it your whole personality," Bobby rolled his eyes.
"Hey, it was a very realistic dream," Reggie retorted. It was, he and two other boys were walking across a street to an Oldsmobile. He remembers the blonde boy getting some pickle juice on the owner's battery, which he brushed off and left the blonde sputtering about how that shouldn't be okay. The group sat on a couch while a brunette with shaggy hair rambled about how this was their big night before digging into their meal. The dream ended after the three wound up throwing up their stomachs and blood till they died.
"Yeah, with two random people dying with you as well, so realistic," Willie commented.
"Well they could be people he'll meet later in life," Nick said. Everyone stared at him, "Did I say that out loud?"
Bobby patted his shoulder, "Can you do my reading next Willie?"
Willie began shuffling his cards. "Sure let me just-" Before Willie could finish Dr.Facilier appeared.
"Hello boys," he greeted as he approached the table, "I need you to run this to Hades for me Willie." He gave Willie a string bag, "Now I know you're old enough now, you know to be careful, be gentle with the bag, and be quick. Hades doesn't want to be kept waiting." He started walking away before turning around, "And I hope you're charging your friends for those readings!"
Nick asked, "Is he aware we never pay?"
"Probably but I charge everyone else," Willie said, getting up and taking the bag. "Now I have to make this run. I'll see you guys later?"
They all nodded and bid their goodbyes to Willie. They sat in silence for a bit before Bobby spoke up, "Let's play some games before class?"
Reggie jumped up, "Yes!" he was getting bored of sitting around especially when they could be doing other things.
"I don't know about you but I want candy right now," Nick spoke up, finished with his snack.
"I don't care, I wanna do anything besides sit," Reggie replied.
"I mean I could go for some candy," Bobby said getting up.
The group of teens ran off to "find" candy, by finding what they really meant to steal. most food they ate was acquired via stealing. Out of the four, only Willie and Nick were usually sent to school with lunch. Gaston sent Nick to school with enough food to last a normal person a week, usually, he shared his lunch with Bobby and Reggie, it was too much for him to eat alone.
He often wondered what fresh food tastes like. Reggie finds himself thinking of it on more than one occasion. His father is still living in Wonderland since he saved many people from his mother's wrath. but it didn't matter, the royal court didn't want to separate a mother from her child, so he automatically went with his mother.
He wonders if his father even tried to put up a fight with it, probably not since he got out of raising a child. His mother constantly complained about having to raise him, he was a burden, couldn’t take care of himself, whining to be held, or crying for something. If Reggie stayed with his father his life would be so different. It's probably better in Wonderland too.
Reggie is envious of those who live there. But the isle is his home, he's met all his friends here, but he just can't help longing for his original home.