daylight ❪ DESCENDANTS ❫

i. the girl and the tower

the girl and the tower; ❛ DAYLIGHT ❜
❝ They're the worst of them all! ❞

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Prince Ben had visions of a girl and a tower.

Her black and red curls and the calculating but warm look in her eyes plagued his dreams every night since his fifteenth birthday. The visions started three years ago. Now, he was about to start his senior year while also taking on his father's role as the king. It was a lot of responsibility, the responsibility that his father was apparently too tired to still bear.

Ben did not blame him. If he had been stuck in the body of a beast for five years and then did the job of uniting most of the kingdoms in their land, before ruling all of them for at least twenty tears, Ben would be tired too. Still, he had a hunch that his father would rather keep ruling than give his crown to his "little boy".

As much as Ben's parents loved him, he always knew that his father thought that he was not mature enough to rule. In his opinion, one had to go through their fair share of trauma and fighting before becoming a ruler.

Frankly, Ben thought that was bullshit. He believed that he even saw some things in a more objective manner in contrast to his parents. For example, while his parents feared everything that the Island of the Lost presented, he was curious about it. He believed that the world was not black and white and that they couldn't simply lock up all of the people who did them wrong, especially if that includes their children who have never done anything wrong.

Okay, maybe that was not his objective opinion. The girl who he dreamt of must have been from the Isle. At first, he considered Wonderland, but then he realized that the tower that he would catch a glimpse of every now and then in his dreams must have meant something.

So, he chose six villain kid's to transfer to their perfect kingdom and he made sure one of them was the daughter of the woman who imprisoned a girl in a tower long before her (second) daughter was even born.

"How is it possible that you're gonna be crowned king next month?" King Adam asked, announcing his presence in the room and smiling at his son. "You're just a baby!"

Belle, Ben's mother, rolled her eyes. "He turned eighteen a month ago, dear."

"Hi." Ben smiled back at his parents.

Adam shrugged and barely spared them a glance as he poured himself a drink. "Eighteen? That's far too young to be crowned king. I didn't make a good decision until I was at least forty-two."

"You decided to marry me at twenty-three." Belle shot back with a deadpan look, causing Ben to chuckle to himself.

"Eh, it was either you or the teapot."

Ben barked out a laugh. He shook his head and turned his head to look out of the enormous window of his chambers. Even looking at that damned Island made him sick to his stomach.

"Mom, dad..." He said in a serious tone. "I've chosen my first official proclamation. I've decided that the children on the Isle of the Lost will be given a chance..." he let out a shaky breath, "to live here in Auradon." His mother gasped and his father's jaw dropped. While Ben's heart sank, his confidence did not falter. "Every time I look out to the Island I feel like they've been abandoned."

Adam squinted his eyes, looking at him as if he had gone mad. "The children of our sworn enemies, living among us?"

Ben nodded. "We start out with a few at first, only the ones who need our help the most. I've already chosen them."

"Have you?" Adam raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"I gave you a second chance." Belle muttered to her husband softly and placed a hand on his forearm. She looked back at her son, encouraging him to continue. She was always far more supportive and understanding than her other half. "Who are their parents?"

Ben gave her a small grateful smile and said, "Cruella De Vil, Jafar, Peter Pan and the Dark Fairy," Adam clenched his jaw, his blood visibly running cold, "Evil Queen, Gothel... and Maleficent."

"Are you out of your mind?" Adam shouted, the whole castle practically shaking due to his volume. "Maleficent and the Dark Fairy? They're the worst of them all! And Gothel? After what she did to Raven's parents? What will she think of you?"

Ben shook his head. He could not believe that he would try to guilt-trip by mentioning his best friend as if he didn't speak to her about everything. "You know what Raven is like. I already told her everything and she agrees! She knows that their children are innocent. Don't you think that they deserve a shot at a normal life?" His father stayed silent so he tilted his head, "Dad?"

His shoulders fell in defeat and he bowed his head. "I supposed their children are innocent."

Belle's face was soon brightened up with a smile. "Well, well done."