bad seed | h. hook

0.01| the first official proclamation

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Once upon a time, long, long ago - well more like 20 years ago, Belle married her Beast in front of 6,000 of their closest, personal friends.

Big cake. 

Yeah, so instead of a honeymoon, Beast united all of the kingdoms and got himself elected King of the United States of Auradon. He rounded up all of the villains and sidekicks, basically all of the really interesting people, and booted them off to the Isle of the Lost with a magical barrier to keep them there.

No magic. No wifi. No way out. Or so they thought.

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Ben Florian-Beast stood staring out at the ocean and the cloud covered island that was on top of it. He was clearly distracted at his suit fitting, done ever so graciously by Lumiere for his upcoming coronation.

But, his thoughts were shortly interrupted by his parents, the King and Queen, walking into the room.

"How is it possible you're going to be King next month? You're just a baby!" His father teased.

"He's turning 16, dear." Belle reminded her husband while unlacing their arms, stopping at the circular wooden table.

"Hey, pops." Ben timidly spoke, if his parents were paying well enough attention, they would see that something was bothering their son.

"Sixteen? That's far too young to be crowned king. I didn't make a good decision until I was at least 42!" Belle scoffed and looked at her husband, shocked. "Uh, you decided to marry me at 28."

"It was either you or a teapot." Beast said jokingly. Ben laughed at his dads joke while Belle still had the same look on her face. "Kidding." he muttered.

Both turning to look at their son, Ben spoke, "Mom, Dad," he went to step off of the platform but Lumiere stopped him. "I've chosen my first official proclamation."

Based on how his parents looked at each other pleased, he carried on. "I've decided that the children on the Isle of the Lost be given a chance to live here in Auradon."

Belle and Beast both made uncomfortable noises and the woman actually dropped the blanket she was folding out of pure shock. Deciding to try and reason, Ben continued. "Every time I look out at the island, I feel like they've been abandoned."

"The children of our sworn enemies? Living among us?"  His father asked. Gesturing his hands, Ben responded, "We start out with a few at first, only ones who need our help the most." Belle slowly nodded so Ben assumed he was okay to keep going. "I've already chosen them." He paused. "Five. I've chosen five of them."

Though, that only appeared to upset his father more. "Have you?" Adam tried to step forward, but Belle held him back. "I gave you a second chance." She defended and he relaxed his shoulders. "Who are their parents?" This was the part Ben was most worried about.

"Cruella de Vil..." His parents still had resting faces on, but he didn't miss how Belle reached down for her husbands hand. "Jafar..." Belle's grip tightened. "Evil Queen..." Adam tilted his ear out towards Ben, almost to see if he was hearing his son correctly. "Maleficent..." Ben internally cringed.

Belle screamed and Lumiere dropped whatever he was holding. "Maleficent!" Beast roared. "She is the worst villain in the land!"

"Dad, just hear me out here-" Beast cut off his son, "I won't hear of it. They are guilty of unspeakable crimes."

The staff that had been at the door silently made their way out of the room to give the family privacy, shutting the door behind them. The did not want to be caught up in the Beast family drama.

"Dad, their children are innocent. Don't you think they deserve a shot at a normal life?" Ben asked, sympathetically at that, hoping his dad would see his reason. "Dad?"

Adam glanced at his wife, who looked encouragingly at him. He could tell that she believed in their son and so he felt he needed to give him a shot as well.

"I suppose their children are innocent." He gave in but walked away as soon as he said it. Ben smiled in relief.

Belle made her way over to her son and gave him a congratulatory tug of the suit. "Well, well done. And who is the fifth child?"

Ben smile faltered and a new wave of anxiety washed over him. "Oh, just remember what you said about innocence." He gave a nervous thumbs up, "Uh, the daughter of The Horned King and Madame Medusa."

The calm and relaxed look Belle had on her face diminished. "Those terrible beasts? Together they're worse than Maleficent!" Adam yelled. His beauty was shaking her head before sounding a simple "No."

"Mom, dad c'mon. She's not her parents."

Belle sighed, "But she was raised by them. Those terrible people." She was back to shaking her head.

"Again, which is why she, and the rest, need all of our help. They've only ever known evil. We can show them good. Make them see purely."

Beast grumbled and shared a look with his wife. They both knew if was unfair to hold the children responsible for their parents actions. He released another grumble before nodding his head. "Fine."

Ben smiled, his eyes lighting up. "Yes, thank you for giving them a chance. 

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