The gray clouds surrounding the dome of the magical barrier caught Princess Charity’s eye once again as she tuned out what Lumiere had been saying about her coronation dress. How could she focus on the impending event while the third-generation VKs were rotting away on the Isle of the Lost? Her father often confided in her about how terribly he felt whenever he thought about those children being punished for the crimes their parents committed. Charity wholeheartedly agreed with him on the fact that the kids did nothing to warrant banishment and imprisonment.

    “Princess, are you listening?” Lumiere inquired as Charity blinked, perplexed as to where she was and how she got there.

    “No, I got lost in my thoughts again. I apologize, Lumiere, but I can’t stop thinking about the kids on the island over there.” Charity frowned, sighing heavily.

    “Just like your father,” remarked Lumiere, shaking his head. “He was in the very same spot you are in when he was training to become the King of Auradon.” As he spoke, he grabbed a tape measure and adjusted the position of Charity’s head, measuring temple to temple round the back.

    “That was when he decided to invite Mum, Auntie Evie, Uncle Jay, and Uncle Carlos to Auradon and attend Auradon Prep,” piped up Charity as he picked up a pencil and pad of paper, jotting down the measurements.

    “Yes,” answered Lumiere. “When he announced he wanted to invite the daughter of Maleficent to Auradon, your grandfather was about ready to blow his top.” He chuckled, remembering that day. “Your grandfather hadn’t known it then, but your father’s idea may have changed Auradon for the better.”

    “Then why hasn’t he invited more kids from the Isle?” Charity questioned as Lumiere continued with his work.

    “I was hoping you’d make the decision of who would come over next,” a soft voice spoke from the doorway.

    Charity and Lumiere stared at King Ben of Auradon as he walked over towards his daughter and servant. Lumiere bowed to Ben, exiting the room to give the father and daughter some privacy.

    “I think you’re old enough to make a choice of who gets to come to Auradon,” said Ben, helping Charity from the stool she had been standing on.

    “Really?!” Charity asked excitedly. “I can?!”

    “Yes,” laughed Ben, noticing the light in his daughter’s eyes. They were like little flecks of gold; she definitely inherited that trait from her mother.

    “Ben, why are you working Charity up before the proclamation ceremony?” Queen Mal of Auradon inquired of her husband as she entered her daughter’s bedroom. She and Ben shared a brief kiss, and Charity giggled.

    “Right here, Mum, Dad.” Charity gazed up at her parents as they hugged her carefully.

    “Who do you want to invite, Char?” Mal beamed as she gazed at her little girl lovingly.

    Charity began to think about the lucky VKs, approaching the desk where a database of every villain kid was stored. While she powered up the computer, she drummed her fingers on the desktop. “I decided who I want to invite to Auradon,” she declared when the computer finally booted up.

    “Who are they?” Ben asked.

    “Genevieve Gothel, daughter of Gil LeGume and Ginny Gothel. Hubert Pinkerton, son of the Queen and King of Hearts,” answered Charity, finding each VK in the database, “and Hazel Westergaard, daughter of Hans Westergaard.” She attempted to access a locked folder in Hazel’s file, but she couldn’t get in. “Damn it, I can’t find who Hazel’s mother is.”

    “Wasn’t the King of Hearts a hero?” Ben questioned. “Did he volunteer to go to the Isle, like Yen Sid did?”

    “The King of Hearts did volunteer, but not because he wanted to be a teacher like Yen Sid did. The King volunteered because he didn’t want to abandon his wife,” sighed Mal. “That’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard of, though: Who follows someone who views him as a child?”

    Ben shrugged his shoulders lightly. “Char, it’s okay if you can’t identify who Hazel’s mother is. We know who her father is, although that might strike up some controversy.”

    “I know the consequences of this option, but if these kids need our help, maybe some good will come from inviting them to Auradon,” Charity spoke, staring at the photos of the three VKs. “Let’s just hope their parents don’t tell them to steal Fairy Godmother’s wand. That wouldn’t bode well for Auradon.”

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    Hello, guys, gals, non-binary pals. I hope you’re all feeling okay; if you’re not, my private messages are open to anyone who wants to talk. Anyway, if you enjoyed this chapter, let me know in the comments.