Hazel rushed to her bedroom as soon as Genevieve informed the adults of the decision. If she were going to Auradon, she'd need to pack the bare necessities. The outfits she'd wear during the school week were the very first items on her mental list. As she rummaged through her closet, Hazel's hands trembled when she selected a plain, navy blue dress. This had been one of the first dresses she'd ever made, and Hans had helped her sew the pattern together. She had been about thirteen, maybe fourteen at the time. It hadn't fit her back then, but maybe it would fit like a glove now. Later. Now is not the time for reminiscing, Hazel scolded herself as she folded the garment up carefully and placed it in her suitcase. She continued this routine, moving like a sloth, making sure she wasn't ripping any hems or causing slight destruction to these articles of clothing. Hans knocked on her open bedroom door, startling his daughter from choosing the most suitable footwear for Auradon.

"Hi, Papa," giggled Hazel as she selected a pair of leather, black lace-up combat boots. She resumed packing her bags as Hans helped his little girl by sticking a bottle of his cologne in a pocket. Hazel looked up at Hans, hugging him as tightly as she could. She'd always confided in her papa about how much she wanted to leave the island - so why did it feel so hard to leave now?

"I know this is a big change, pumpkin, but I just wanted to let you know that I'll always be with you in your heart." Hans held onto his little girl, suddenly frightened of letting her go out into a different environment. On the Isle, he'd been able to be by her side, protecting her from Unity Hook and her parents, Uma and Harry Hook. But when he wasn't with her, she was incredibly vulnerable. That had usually been when Unity chose to strike and abuse his little girl. While Hazel beat Unity on the rooftops, there was a limit to how many buildings she could run across. The effects of Unity's abuse against Hazel changed his daughter for the worst. She became more meek, more silent, more afraid. Before Hubert and Genevieve showed up in her life, Hans had been petrified at the mere idea of Hazel even considering the idea of ending her life. Thankfully, those urges hadn't popped up in some time, but you never knew when those moments would strike.

"I'm going to miss you," whispered Hazel, burying her face in Hans's chest. She didn't want to let her papa go, not just yet. She inhaled the minty scent of the cologne, wanting to dedicate it to her memory. Even though she'd have the cologne with her in Auradon, it wouldn't be the same as smelling it on Hans's person. I have to recall that he always smelled of mint, she told herself firmly, I have to! "I can't imagine a day where we'd be separated. I don't even know how long we'll be apart."

"Pumpkin, don't think about that," Hans whispered soothingly, kneeling down to his daughter's height. He gingerly stroked her cheek, grinning as he saw her smile as best she could. "I'm happy knowing you'll be safe in Auradon. Unity won't be there, Harry won't be there, and Uma won't be there. Besides, even if someone were to threaten you, Gemma and Hubert will be right by your side, kicking their ass." He chuckled when Hazel giggled, clearly imagining the scene inside her mind. "Like I said, Jane will allow occasional phone calls during your classes. We'll see each other on Family Day. Let's just make the best of our last few moments together, okay? My little emerald?"

"'My little emerald'?" Hazel asked.

"Tried it out. Doesn't work as well as 'pumpkin', does it?"

"No, no, it does not."

"So much for that."

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"You'll be okay, Gemma, really?" Gil asked Genevieve as she finished packing her duffel bag. "Are you sure you have everything? Toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush?"

"Gil, stop it. Gemma is sixteen now, and she doesn't need her father becoming overprotective now." Ginny held her husband's hand, leaning her head on his broad shoulder.

"I know, I know," nodded Gil, "but I can't help it. My overprotection is what prompted me to leave Uma's crew in the first place. Now I'm not saying I regret that decision, but maybe we'd be protected if I hadn't left."

"Dad, if you hadn't left, Mom and I would be on our own," Genevieve pointed out.

Ginny agreed with her daughter, adding, "also, Uma hates my guts. I thought we'd be able to get along as teenagers because of our mutual hatred against Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos; I guess we'd never get along because Uma told Unity to beat Gemma up."

Gil sighed, smiling fondly at his wife and daughter. Sometimes they were two peas in a pod. "All I'm saying is, be careful in Auradon, Gemma, okay?"

"I will, Dad." Genevieve grinned at her parents.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Hubert snuck back to the Queen of Heart's old castle, realizing he'd left his backpack in his old bedroom. If he timed it right, he'd avoid one of his mother's tempers. Also, his father would've been taking a nap right about then, so he should be safe. Can't say for sure, Hubert reasoned as he opened his window and slipped into a room he barely recognized now. He gazed at the peeling red-and-black wallpaper, images of red roses scattered all along the wall. Stacks of playing cards had been tossed all over the floor, and Hubert reminisced that he'd been irritated at ten years old, throwing the boxes around because he couldn't shuffle the cards. Hades, was I that bad? Hubert asked himself as he tiptoed his way across the room to the closet. Finding his backpack, he was ready to sneak back out when the door opened.

"Hubert?" the King of Hearts inquired, and Hubert froze.

Damn it. "Hi, Dad," answered Hubert stiffly. "Can't talk right now. Gotta go." He climbed out the window, shutting the pane and darting across the rooftops before the king could even utter another word. Only he could ruin what had been a great day for me. The sooner I get off the Isle, the sooner I'm away from my neglectful parents.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

A 2003 Lincoln town car stretched limousine had been parked in front of Hans's castle when Hazel, Hubert, and Genevieve exited the safe haven they called home. The paint job was midnight black, and the shininess blinded the teens for a few seconds. The driver stepped out of the vehicle and helped them with their bags.

"We're not helpless," whispered Genevieve harshly as she stepped into the limo first. "We could've put our own bags away."

"Manners. Something that's taught in Auradon," answered Hazel, slipping into the backseat beside Genevieve. "Papa taught us manners."

"Yes, he did, and even manners couldn't stop our tormentor from tormenting us," stated Hubert coldly. The girls knew that Hubert didn't mean to treat them the way he did just then; it was a defence mechanism for him, whenever something irked him. Seeing the King of Hearts before leaving was definitely the source of this coldness.

"The jackals have landed." The driver had spoken into a walkie-talkie clipped to his lapel, starting the ignition. Just like that, Hazel Westergaard, Hubert Pinkerton, and Genevieve Gothel were off to Auradon Prep, where goodness doesn't get any better.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

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