﹅ ۰ ۰ ۰ 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 ┊ ❪ 𝑨𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝑺𝙿𝙰𝙳𝙴𝚂! ❫
▍𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗛 ｡ ｡ ｡ ｡ kids from all different backgrounds,
whether that being raised by a villain, raised by a hero,
raised by a mom, raised by a dad, or raised by b...
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𝐉𝐀𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐒 eagerly held out their strawberries, dipping them under the rich, flowing chocolate fountain set up for Family Day at Auradon. As they tasted the sweet, creamy chocolate, Carlos began bouncing excitedly, savoring every bite, while Jay leaned over and stuck his tongue directly into the stream of chocolate, completely unfazed by the onlookers.
Standing on the other side of the fountain, twirling a strawberry under the chocolate, Elizabeth brought it to her mouth and took a bite. Pausing as she caught sight of Jay, Elizabeth furrowed her brows and made a disgusted face.
"Ew, Jay!" Elizabeth gasped, going around the table and shoving him back. Carlos stopped jumping as she held onto Jay's arm, glaring at him. "People actually eat off of that, you know!" Elizabeth continued as Jay went to swipe his fingers over one of the plates on the fountain, hitting his hand quickly.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, reluctantly letting go. "That's still disgusting," she muttered, shaking her head.
Just then, Ashlynn appeared from the crowd, calling Elizabeth over to join a game of croquet. Elizabeth, happy for the distraction, followed her friend out to the gardens. They joined a group already gathered, and as they played, Elizabeth's laughter filled the air — a rare, carefree moment that she savored.
Her smile was genuine, her eyes lit with a joy she didn't often show.
Suddenly, Chad's towering figure appeared, his face set in a hard frown as he strode directly toward Elizabeth. She tensed, her laughter dying on her lips as Ashlynn's smile faded too, sensing the hostility radiating from her brother. He didn't waste a moment. "Elizabeth, I need to talk to you. Now," he snapped, his eyes fixed on her.
Elizabeth looked up, her face paling with apprehension. "M—me?" she stammered, taken aback.
"Yes, you," Chad replied with a scowl. "It's only a matter of time before you cause trouble, hanging around people like my sister."
Elizabeth's expression shifted from confusion to hurt as his words sank in. "What are you talking about?" she retorted defensively. "I haven't done anything —"
"Oh, really?" he cut her off, his tone growing harsher. "You don't see it? You're the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, Elizabeth. You know, it's only a matter of time before you turn into a problem. People like you ━ villain kids ━ they always end up causing trouble. It's only a matter of time before you're threatening to behead someone or worse."
Ashlynn stepped forward, her protective instincts taking over. "That's enough, Chad!" she exclaimed. "Elizabeth is my friend, and you don't get to judge her based on her mother's reputation."
Chad's face flushed with anger, his fists clenched. "I'm just being realistic, Ashlynn. You have no idea what she's capable of."
Elizabeth's cheeks burned as the small crowd that had gathered watched the scene unfold. Her voice dropped to barely a whisper, her dignity slipping away with each word Chad threw at her. "Maybe you're right," she said quietly, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Maybe I should just go."
Without waiting for Ashlynn's protest, Elizabeth walked away quickly, her head held high despite the ache in her chest. She found her way to a secluded bench at the edge of the garden, sitting down and taking a shaky breath as she tried to hold back her tears.
Moments later, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, what's with the sad face? Did someone steal your lunch or something?" Jay's playful tone brought a slight smile to her lips despite the weight she felt.
She looked up at him, grateful for the comfort of his presence. "It's Chad," she murmured, her voice tinged with sadness. "He said... he said I'm bound to be a problem, just like my mother."
Jay's usual teasing smile softened, and he sat down beside her, his expression sincere but with a spark of his usual charm. He knew better than anyone how much Elizabeth despised being compared to her mother and the "villain" label that followed her everywhere.
"Chad's just uptight," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "He can't handle anyone who doesn't fit his perfect little mold."
Elizabeth looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "It just... hurts. No matter what I do, people just see me as the Queen of Hearts' daughter, like I'm some sort of monster waiting to happen."
Jay reached over, tilting her chin up gently so she would look at him. "Well, if it means anything, I think you're pretty amazing. And besides, if Chad's going to judge you for your mom, he'd probably think I should be out there stealing everything in sight. Which, by the way, I'm totally not planning to do... at least, not today."
Elizabeth laughed softly, the tension easing as she felt the warmth of his words wash over her. "Thanks, Jay. That... that actually makes me feel a lot better."
"Anytime, Red," he replied, using the nickname he'd called her since they were younger. "Besides, you're way too cool to let a grumpy prince ruin your day. Just remember you've got friends who care about you, and we're not going anywhere."
Elizabeth's smile returned in full, the shadows in her heart retreating as she met Jay's warm gaze. For the first time in a while, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she could find her place in Auradon without the weight of her mother's legacy holding her down.
And she knew, as long as Jay was by her side, she'd have a friend to remind her of her worth every step of the way.
