I sigh as I close my latest letter from Dizzy, placing it on my designated pile with the rest of them. I like to keep her letters and stare at the sparkly ink and impeccable handwriting, run my fingers over the Auradon seal, and remind myself how much my life sucks.

You probably don't know who I am. That's alright, I mean, no one knows who I am. My name's Ashley.

I live on the Isle of the Lost. Otherwise known as the most miserable place on the planet. I'm the daughter of Anastasia Tremaine, one of Cinderella's "evil stepsisters". And that makes me a villain kid. Yay.

The thing is, I've never wanted to be evil. Neither did my mother. Not really.

She was just a bratty teenager. Not that I'm condoning her treatment of Cinderella or anything. I'm just saying that she's learned her lesson, and does not deserve to be here. Then again, no one deserves to be here, in my opinion. Not strong and selfless Harriet, not coy and courageous Ginny, not sweet Claudine, or cheerful Hermie, or even egotistical and opinionated Rick.

Not shy and lovable George, or witty and caring Chris, or kind and bubbly Molly. My best friends.

Thankfully, everything started to change for the better here a few months ago, when Ben decided to open up the VK Program. The Smee twins, Celia, and my cousin Dizzy were the first kids chosen for it.

There are no words to describe how much I wish I was in their place. Of course they all deserve to be where they are, but there's nothing I wouldn't give for a chance to go to Auradon.

I mean, we don't even have cell service here! I have to write Dizzy and all my other friends letters to get updates on how their lives are going (incredibly, by the way). However, in one of said letters, Dizzy explained the new changes to the VK program, where there will be eight separate VK Days a year, and four VKs will be brought to Auradon on each. I submitted my application months ago, and I honestly don't know how I've survived this long without the response. All my friends submitted theirs too, and I can only hope that we all get to go to Auradon together.

I take out a fresh piece of paper and press the pen to the paper, smiling as I write;

Hey, Dizzy! Can't wait to see you in Auradon.

***

"Molly! Get your ass back here! Do not trade all my shit!" Ginny shouts after the grinning girl jogging down the street, "And you better not spread any more rumors about me, you little brat!"

"No promises!" Molly calls over her shoulder, waving at Harriet as the pirate smiles. Ginny scoffs, "Whose side are you on, Harriet?"

She turns back and yells to her little sister again, "I'll see you tonight. Get home safe, dickweed."

"You too, asshole!" Molly replies gleefully, strutting across the street with her big sister's bag in hand.

There's not actually anything of value in here, no matter how dramatic Ginny gets, Molly thinks. It's mostly bricks so the sisters could knock someone's face in if they have to. But Ginny's girlfriend is even better than a bag of bricks, so she usually lets Molly take her stuff when she goes out, albeit with some bitching.

Molly makes her way down the street past the jilted Dragon Hall. Now that just about every villain kid believes in Auradon as their hope to get off the island, the "instruction in villainy and malice" once provided there is pretty obsolete. As far as the youngest Gothel knows, the only ones to use the building now are displaced kids from Dragon's Eye and Disputed Territories.

But to Molly, the interesting part of the sector is just past Troll Town. She just hopes Ashley isn't busy.

***

George Ratcliffe is not having a good day. The unusually crowded Disputed Bazaar seems determined to foil all of his attempts to force his way through, and the low buzz of excitement that emanates from all the voices around him is making it very hard to stay focused.

He quadruple-checks his bag just one more time, making sure that his hard-won prize still remains. He heaves a sigh of relief when he finds everything in its rightful place.

Sadly, he isn't just being paranoid. He had to bribe about five people just to make sure that he was lucky enough to be second in line for the five portable water filters available in Dragon's Eye Bazaar.

Hopefully Ratcliffe is too out of it to notice for a while, George thinks anxiously, still irrationally guilty about all the currency he'd swiped from his father. In all honesty, he probably won't even notice, but given how distant Ratcliffe's favorite child Rick has been lately...

George shakes his head, Not my problem.

Back to the task at hand, George pushes his way through a throng of people until he makes it to a small stand selling various pieces of cotton clothing. He scans some of the hanging selection before asking the owner if they have any cloth diapers. When he receives a negative response, he groans in frustration.

"Georgie! You've gotta relax," piped a familiar voice from behind him.

"Chris!" George exclaims in surprise, whirling around to see that incorrigible grin his best friend is so famous for.

Chris poses as if for a camera, "The one and only, my friend. So, what brings you to the Disputed Bazaar? All those hoity-toity dragons making your skin crawl again?"

"Actually..." George bites his lip, "I came to bring you something. But, well, it's not for you, exactly, I mean- It's for Claudine. For the kids on the Lost Revenge. I wanted to get her all that stuff she wanted to bring them, you know, as a going away present."

Chris' gaze darkened at the mention of his sister, but his curiosity was piqued, "So... what did you manage to get? Good fabric? Dried fruit?"

George looks around nervously before leaning in close to Chris and whispering, "I got a water filter."

"What?" Chris exclaims before lowering his voice again quickly, "How did you-"

George shrugs, "Just threw around some of Daddy's money, that's all."

Chris wraps his arms around the shorter boy, eyes shining,

"Did I ever tell you that you're the best person ever?"

George squeezes back with a small smile, "Something to that effect."

Chris pulls back pretty quickly after that, a big grin still spilling over his face, "Man, Claudine's gonna be so happy! I can't wait to show her, I mean, this is huge..."

George's smile widens at seeing his best friend so happy. He knew that Claudine was still a sore spot for him, and George was glad that he could make it better for Chris, even just a little bit.

"Hey, so I was also gonna keep looking around and see if I could find some protein powder and those cloth diapers Claudine mentioned... You wanna come with?" George asks.

Chris smirked, linking his arm through George's before beginning his standard theatrics. With a thoughtful frown on his face, he muses,

"Hmm... No, actually, I'd rather go throw some pebbles at the rats in Troll Town. Or make small-talk with goblins. Or- ooh! I could harass some of the orphans at Dragon Hall. You know, altruistically."

Chris just giggles when George gives him a well-deserved shove into an oncoming stream of other bazaar-goers, catching up to George again rather quickly to finish his statement with a dramatic sigh, "But I suppose I'll join you on this selfishly indulgent shopping spree of yours, Georgie."

George rolls his eyes again, but pulls Chris along with him as they walk through the streets of the market.

"But you know, you're right, self-care is important. We'll be generous tomorrow," Chris says with a wink.

***

I just finish writing Dizzy's name on the envelope when there's a knock on the door. I quickly seal the letter and get up to answer it.

"Hey, bestie!" Molly exclaims with a little sarcastic flourish, dropping her bag to the floor with a loud thud.

"Hey Molly," I reply, slightly surprised, "What's up?"

She shrugs, "Eh, same old shit, really. Mom's having a temper tantrum, Ginny's with Harriet, I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out."

I can't put into words how much I hate Mother Gothel. Molly deserves so much better. Gothel is super neglectful, and always acts like her daughters are some sort of huge burden to her. And she never stops telling Molly that she should be skinnier and prettier. Molly pretends she doesn't care, but I know that it hurts her.

"Well," I do my own little flourish, "Right this way, madame."

"Why thank you," Molly mock-bows to me with a haughty expression that looks more like a grimace. I chortle as we make our way into the next room, grabbing two paper bags from a cabinet.

"Peanuts or boiled potatoes?"

"Peanuts," Molly replies, and I nod, placing the latter snack back in the cabinet.

"Good choice. We got these special. Unshelled and everything!"

We both flop onto the couch in my mostly-bare living room just next to the even sparser kitchen, resting our heads on the homemade pillows. As mismatched and horribly patched as they were, they are comfy.

"How's that bag of bricks treating you?" I ask with a grin, grabbing a handful of nuts.

"You know, I think I'm getting kinda jacked from carrying it around," Molly smiles, flexing her right arm and posing, "What do you think?"

I giggle, "You're absolutely ripped. How is Ginny, by the way?"

Molly rolls her eyes, "As big a drama queen as ever. And over at Harriet's, so I'm sure they're having just a grand old time."

"Ginny and Harriet are still together, then?" I reply around a mouthful of peanuts.

"Surprisingly. Normally my sister can't go two weeks without some sort of drama." Molly pops a few of the salty snacks into her mouth.

"Well, from what I've heard, Harriet Hook isn't big on drama."

"Oh, she definitely isn't. That girl is intense," Molly shudders.

"Don't you like her?" I ask.

"Oh, I do. She's awesome. That doesn't mean that she can't truly scare me every once in a while. Did I tell you about this one time, she literally crushed the skull of a troll who broke into her ship? With her bare hands."

"Yikes. I guess it runs in the family."

"What, random stints of insane violence? Yeah, I guess so. Anyways, how have you been?"

"Pretty good, I guess. I got another letter from Dizzy."

"Ah, so are you manically obsessing about Auradon and fangirling over heroes," she lets out a long exaggerated sigh and pouts, "Or brooding and depressed about being stuck on the island?"

I struggle not to laugh, "Stop making fun of me, Molly!"

"Hey, I'm just speaking the truth."

"You know you want to go to Auradon as much as I do."

"Well sure, but I'm not constantly moping about it like you are."

"I don't mope!"

"Whatever you say, Miss Pity Party."

I mockingly pout at her, "But pity parties are the only kind I get to throw!"

Molly rolls her eyes with a grin, and I continue, "Fine. Sometimes I get a little bummed about being trapped in an island prison. But I'm not moping right now! I'm way too excited for VK Day."

"Who do you think is going to get picked?"

"Us, obviously."

"Yeah, obviously..."

"And George and Chris, too."

I pause for a second before asking, "How are they? I haven't seen them in a while."

"They're pretty good. Chris says that Claudine officially moved out."

"Oh no, really?"

"Yeah, apparently she's living on the Lost Revenge full time now. He says it's been a long time coming, you know, with their dad and all. It was just a matter of making it official."

"I feel bad. She was always so nice."

"Chris says she's going to come back and visit every once in a while."

"That's good. What about George? Has he got any sibling drama I have yet to hear about?"

"No, Rick isn't doing anything interesting."

"Is he still dating Hermie Bing?"

"Nope. They broke up a few days ago. I'm pretty sure that she's dating that kid Yzla now."

"How do you keep up with all this stuff?"

"Me and my sister combined are friends with everyone."

I grin jokingly, "But I'm still your best friend, right?"

She smiles back, "Absolutely."

After a few seconds of silence, Molly asks, "What are you going to do if you get chosen and I don't?"

"Hey. Auradon has to deal with both of us, or it doesn't get either of us."

"Deal."