Once upon a time, long, long ago, well…more like twenty years ago, Belle married her Beast in front of six thousand of their closest personal friends, there was a big cake. And instead of a honeymoon Beast united all of the Kingdoms and got himself elected King of the Unity States of Auradon. He rounded up all the villains and the side kicks, basically all the really interesting people and he booted them off to the Isle of the Lost with a magical barrier to keep them there.

This is my hood, no magic, no wifi, no. way. out.

Or so I thought.

Prince Ben looked out the window at the Isle of the Lost, the magical barrier shrouding the island in fog an odd juxtaposition to the clear blue sky surround it. He felt the tailor, who had spent some years as a pin cushion thanks to his father's curse, lift his arm to measure the sleeve of his suit but his attention was still fixed across the sea until he felt a firm grip on his jaw turning him to face the front as his brow was measured for his crown.

"How is it possible that you're going to be coming out next month?" his father, King Adam, asked as he walked in arm in arm with his mother Queen Belle, "you're just a baby."

"He's turning sixteen dear," mother reminded him smiling.

"Ah sixteen," his father sighed, "I remember my Beautillion," then he winced awkwardly remembering the night he and all the castle's staff had been cursed. Ben heard the tailor make a quiet snorting noise behind him. After thinking on it his father continued, "I didn't make a good decision until I was at least forty two."

His mother, who had been examining the alternative cuts for Ben's suit turned to father in mock hurt, "You decided to marry me at twenty eight."

Father straightened his suit, "Well it was either you or a teapot," he joked winking at Ben but mother was still frowning at him, "kidding."

"Mom, dad," Ben said, "I've decided what I'd like to ask for as my presentation gift."

His parents cocked their heads towards him to show they were listening and Ben continued, "Every time I look at the Isle of the Lost I feel they've been abandoned. I want to offer the children the opportunity to be presented to the royal court at the coming out ball and for them to live here, in Auradon, if that's what they want."

"The children of our sworn enemies?" father clarified. His tone said he was unconvinced but mother was nodding, that was a good sign.

"I've already chosen them," Ben hurried to add with a hint of finality in his tone.

"Have you?" his father made a step towards him but mother laid a hand on his arm.

"I gave you a second chance," she cautioned then turned to Ben, "Who are their parents?"

"Cruella De Vil," father nodded, "Jafar," mother nodded, "Evil Queen," father frowned, "and Maleficent…"

"Maleficent?" his father snapped, Ben ducked his head but didn't break eye contact, "she was the worst villain in the land!"

"Dad just hear me out-"

"I won't hear of it," his father held a hand up to silence Ben, "they are guilty of unspeakable crimes-"

"But their children are innocent," Ben continued, heartened that his mother hadn't objected, "Dad?"

King Adam looked from his son to his wife who gave him a knowing look, his shoulders slumped and he turned back to Ben, "I suppose the children are innocent," he conceded, nodding to his son and stepping back to make way for Belle.

She came to stand in front of Ben, straightening his lapels and smiling proudly at him, "Well done," she whispered. Ben felt his cheeks go warm and he smiled shyly as his mother. She brushed back the stray brown hairs that had fallen into his eyes and turned back to father.

"Shall we?" she prompted, slipping her arm into her husbands and steering him back the way they'd come out the bay doors.

Ben looked himself over in the mirror, telling himself he was checking the cut of the suit but his eyes wondered all too easily back out the open window and over to the Isle of the Lost.

So you might think putting all the villains of all the stories you've been told while you're being tucked into bed at night would actually be the best idea any good-two-shoes has ever had, put that much genius together in a room and magic will happen right? Wrong. The truth is the majority of the villains here are pretty small time, so when they docked that final boat ditching Maleficent, Queen Grimhilde (Evil Queen to her friends), Jafar and Cruella DeVil it really didn't take them long to be running the place.

But the 'good guys' weren't the only ones to get with the 'good girls', if you know what I'm saying. I'm Mal, Maleficent's daughter. I'm kinda like a celebrity here, people just give me stuff and if they don't…I take it. Like candy from a baby. Of course mom goes one step further and has to lick the thing then give it back, which is kinda gross…wish I'd thought of it. I'm getting off topic.

Long story short Prince Ben, Beast's son and heir, has apparently invited us, uh me, my right hand Evie and basically minions 1 and 2 Jay and Carlos, to some sort of Coming Out Ball? It's one of these old school traditions where kids like us, well, kids our age, wear prissy dresses, curtsy a lot, waltz around a room and basically tell whatever royal happens to be there how pleased we are to meet them. Sickening right? Like if you go way back this was basically how everyone used to say 'hey look, come marry me' but no one does that any more.

It's supposed to be like this 'good will gesture' like we'll find redemption, walk into the light, I don't even know. But my mother being my mother, well crashing royal functions is kind of her forte, and she's got a plan. Master of ceremonies is headmistress the Fairy Godmother, you know the one, Blue Fairy's mom? Bibbity-Bobbity-Be-Back-By-Curfew? Basically all you need to know is she's the woman with the wand.

And that wand, is our way out of this cage.

That wand will bring down the barrier.

And I'll be the one bringing home the wand.

Hi guys, Arista here. So I was just browsing youtube, as you do, and I saw the Wicked World shorts? The animation is so cute! Then I ended up seeing the 'Rotten to the Core' number and I thought 'wow, I think I may have to retract all my reservations about Descendants and give it a watch'. So I did.

Now don't get me wrong, I liked it, sort of. So long as you really don't look too closely and keep in mind the target audience age. I think something similar is about to happen to Jem and the Holograms.

But the characters I saw in Rotten to the Core…I don't think they made an appearance in the film outside of that number. I felt none of the VKs really shined, like there was so much that could have been done with them that just…wasn't.

So I know this prologue has basically re-hashed the first twenty minutes of the movie, practically paraphrasing a whole scene, but if you feel the same way as I do about the movie please consider sticking with me. At least through one more chapter.

Hope my little changes are an enticing first bite of the apple ;)

See you soon x