Rain had somehow created a routine in the short time she'd been at Auradon prep. Her and the VKs had figured out when their timetables aligned and ate lunch and breakfast together most days. Ben had sat with them a few times, along with Ruby and Lonnie as well. At dinner on Wednesday, Ben and Rain had sat separately, arguing over the last chocolate cupcake as their friends watched.

Taylor had even been integrated into the friend group, Evie had been talking less and less about Chad and more and more about him.

On Thursday's, the VKs met up in their morning break before all going to Remedial Goodness. Fairy Godmother often left the classroom unlocked for them to all hang out in during free periods, it became a place for them to sit and talk, away from prying eyes.

Today, as Fairy Godmother set up the class, the others were studying quietly and Rain herself was reading another history book. History of Auradon earlier in the week had been pretty...topical. With them coving it's formation and the Isle.

Chip stood at the front of the class, questions up on the interactive board. Rain and Ben were in their usual spots, slouching at the back.

"How long did it take for the Villains to be transported to the Isle?" He looks around the room and picks on a tall blonde girl in a cream cardigan "Honey-May?"

"4 years,"

"Good! Although the proclamation was 20 years ago, it took several years for the Villains to be caught and/or brought back to life. Who was the last registered Villain to enter the Isle?"

Honey answers easily "Mother Gothel, she had been hiding in the Black Forrest with her infant daughter," Only a few students didn't have the restraint to not glance back at Rain, she nervously plays with her skirt fabric, resisting the urge to look to ben for comfort.

"The Auradon authorities took weeks to process her as well," Another student pipes up, Rain faintly remembers Ruby saying she was from Corona as well, she thought maybe her name was Mandy "They were unsure what to do with the child, Queen Rapunzel petitioned against the child going to the Isle, but Gothel said she'd go peacefully if her daughter came with her,"

Rain didn't know that. She could have been raised in Auradon...Ben's eyebrows furrow in concern and Chip quickly changes the topic of conversation. He's bumped into her later in the week and apologised for the unwanted attention.

And so, Rain had searched the library for anything about the formation of the Isle, and managed to find a university paper on the children that were sent with their parents as well. Apparently the Kingdom of Corona offered to take Rain in, and put her into their adoption system, claiming it was unfair that a baby was shoved into the Isle. Even whilst the Fitzherberts were dealing with the loss of their own daughter (the unnamed Fitzherbert had apparently died after complications with her birth), they fought for Rain to stay in Auradon.

It was King Beast who signed off her papers, sending her to the Isle.

Rain shuts the book and blinks away a few tears. So many things could have happened to her...instead she grew up on the isle with her mother...locked away.

Fairy Godmother suddenly coughs, snapping Rain out of her thoughts, Fairy Godmother walks down the aisle between tables "Children, excuse me," everyone looks up, and Rain sniffs quietly, "As you may know, uh, this Friday is family day here at Auradon Prep. And because your parents can't be here due to, uh... distance," She smiles awkwardly, giving the boys a thumbs up "We've arranged for a special treat." She excitedly backs away and rushes up to the front of the class, where a TV Monitor was placed, a keyboard next to it. She pushes Enter and Maleficent's face appears on the screen. The VK's eyes widen.

"I don't see anything, nor do I hear," Maleficent exclaims, still close to the camera - her nostril is not something Rain wanted to see up of.

"Kids!" Fairy Godmother beckons them forward and they timidly stand up and behind her. Rain hangs back slightly, trying to hide behind Evie, she wasn't excited to see her mother.

But she does when Maleficent leans back and argues for the remote, she sees Gothel sat next to the Mistress of evil, a bored look on her face.

The Villains continue to bicker "Ugh! It's broken! I hate electronicals!" Finally they gasp, having figured out whatever device they were using.

"Oh! Evie, It's mommy!" The Evil Queen is stood at the back, but leans down to see her daughter "Look how beautiful. Oh, you know what they say, the poison apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Evie smiles slightly, but very awkwardly waves.

"Don't you mean the weeds?" Maleficent cackles.

"Ooh! Who's the old bat?" Cruella asks putting her face incredibly close to the camera.

"This is Fairy Godmother," Mal explains

"Still doing tricks with eggplants?"

"I turned a pumpkin into a beautiful carriage!"

"You really couldn't give Cinderella till one A.M.? I mean, really. What, the hamsters had to be back on their little wheels? -" Maleficent turns around and fist bumps the Queen. Rain smirks slightly. It was a familiar environment. When she catches her mother's eyeroll however, her smile drops

"They were mice! They were not... they were mice. They were not..." Fairy Godmother weekly protests and she turns to Mal as she puts a comforting hand on her shoulder, pushing her out of frame

"Thank you so much. Thank you."

"They were mice!"

"Hi Mom,"

"Mal! I m-m-miss you"

"You children are never far from our thoughts" Jaffar announced.

"Where is my daughter?!" Gothel exclaims and Rain slowly steps forward "Well come closer girl, I shan't have you off on the side-lines,"

Rain bites her inner cheek but does what she's told, she can see her mother's scrutinising gaze run over her "How long must mummy wait to see you?" Her tone changes from harsh to sickly sweet "You know how stress gives me grey hairs!"

"You mean more grey hairs!" Maleficent cackles. Gothel smacks her arm.

"Um, there's a big -"

"Oh do speak up Gabrielle! We're not getting ay younger,"

"Why didn't you tell me I was born outside the Isle?" She blurts out, Gothel's eyes widen and the VK's glance to her

"Rainy-"

"You said they took you in pregnant, you acted like my whole existence was a burden, but you chose to take me. You could have got rid of me just as easily!"

"Rain-" Mother Gothel is clearly shocked, struggling to reply, Rain doesn't dare look at Fairy Godmother "Gabrielle," he tone turns sharp "We will discuss this when you return,"

"When will that be exactly?" Maleficent pipes up

"There's a coronation coming up. I think sometime probably after... that." Mal answers quickly, subtly pulling Rain back, Evie grabs her hand.

"When?" Maleficent asks

"Friday 10 AM" She snaps

"You're sure I can't see you before that? I don't know what I'll do If I don't get my hands on that magic wan..." The Evil Queen hits her on her head and Gothel nudges her making her remember that the wands owner was still there "You...you little nugget that I love so much."

"Yes, I completely understand, mother,"

"Carlos, is that a dog? Oh, yes, yes, baby, I do understand. It would make the perfect size for earmuffs" Cruella plotted. Carlos stepped forward and his grip on Dude tightened

"He's the perfect size for a pet! " she made a noise of shock "This dog loves me, and I love him. And FYI, your dog is stuffed! So, give it a rest!"

"Oh-ho! Burn" Jaffar laughed

"Oh! Why don't you go sell a toaster, you two-bit salesman!"

"People who talk to stuffed animals shouldn't throw stones"

"Oh, well, people who sell toasters shouldn't use mixed metaphors" eventually, Jay steps forward, pressing enter on the keyboard, shutting off the screen.

"I'm so sorry" Fairy godmother consoles

"Thanks for the special treat," Jay looked to her

"Appreciate the thought," Rain grumbles

"Of course,"

They walk away and grab their bags, Evie stands behind Rain "R, you never said-"

"I just found out," Rain sniffs slightly, urging the tears to stay in "I don't want to talk about it," She leads them out the classroom

"What do you think our parents are gonna do to us? If we don't pull this off?" Evie asks quietly

"I think they will be quietly disappointed in us, but ultimately... Proud of us for doing our best." Mal suggests

"Really?" Carlos spoke from the back

"No, we are definitely goners" Rain answers bluntly.

Unfortunately for Rain, she had a lesson next, and it was 'Selflessness 101', not something she could she to forget her mother in.

At lunch, she can't bare the thought of sitting with her friends, and so instead, grabs an apple from the back of the cafeteria line, and sits on the Tourney benches. She finds herself sketching today, angrily adding petals to simple flowers. It was repetitive, something which calmed her.

"Hey," she jumps at the sound of a familiar voice, looking up and seeing Ben stood there, for once, a backpack slung over his shoulders, Rain doesn't respond, glaring "Yeah...I was warned about that," he sits next to her carefully, setting his bag on the floor.

"Did they tell you what happened?" Rain asks grumpily, continuing her sketches, there was no point pretending that she didn't know that her friends had sent him to her.

"Yeah...I'm sorry,"

"It's not your fault," Rain shrugs "It's hers,"

"Still," Ben answers and she glances up at him again, he was giving her a kind smile, one which made Rain unbelievably happy and angry at the same time "I brought you some food,"

"I had an apple," he raises an eyebrow, a silent 'are you kidding me', before opening up his bag and presenting her with a plain cheese sandwich.

"Ooo exciting," she teases and he blushes slightly

"I thought it was a safe option!" he exclaims "You can not beat Mrs Forque's sandwiches," he hands it over and Rain curses her stomach for rumbling at that exact time, she removes it from it's packaging and takes a bite "I also, got dessert," he makes a show of slowly taking the object out of his bag, revealing a pot of strawberries. Rain grins. "Knew I'd make you smile,"

"Shut up," she nudges him with her shoulder but is still smiling "Thank you,"

"Anytime,"

They sit like that for a while, Ben eating his own sandwich - peanut butter and jelly. It was nice, quiet. As they start to share the strawberries, Rain has a sudden thought

"Wait, your parents will be at family day right?"

"Uh yeah," he nods, clearly not thinking much of it "They managed to take the weekend off as well, so we're going into town for lunch on Saturday,"

"Oh, that's nice," Rain felt a bit left out. She knew Ruby had plans with her parents as well, and so that left her Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos alone. They'd find something to do...probably. They did have a heist to plan. Well, a Con.

"You can come if-"

"Oh Hades no," Rain laughs and Ben looks slightly offended "Sorry Ben," she takes his hand, not thinking about it "Spend the time with them, don't worry about me. I'm sure Evie has me booked as a fashion mannequin all weekend for our coronation dresses,"

"Well...You're still welcome if you change your mind," he offers, Rain gives his hand a squeeze, not letting go.