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cartoonfangirl1218 · 4 years ago

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Winner’s Curse Ch. 28

“Mirror, mirror ..”

“The universe shall be mine to control!”

“O’ cauldron, cast my spell!”

“Mmm those unfortunate souls won’t know what hit ‘em.”

“Friends, give me your generous assistance. I seek to give you the souls you desire but I need you,”

“Nish.en.top Adlantis, panneb.le.nen. Gamos.yoh!”

“Hee hee soon that rotten emperor will be crushed like a bug and then Kuzcotopia will be mine, mine, all mine Hahahahahah!”

“Avalon ye gave thy sword to one true king. However he shall be felled.”

Uma shifted from foot to foot as she stared at the bulk of her mother’s backside. Not out of nervousness but in readiness. The first eight members had started casting their spells in the famed cauldron of the Horned King which Jade had deftly stole from the rotting corpse.While Mother Gothel, who only gained her power from the famed youthful flower, and Ginny steadily stirred the pot.

The cauldron was to be the centerpoint for their magic, generating energy draining fumes and crackling lightning that broke through the ceiling of the castle. But even as plaster and tile fell over them, the members did not move from their positions on the pentagram that Nerissa drew on the floor. It was essential that they did not break the ley lines of power connecting the thirteen of them, the sorcerer queen had warned.

A green mist rose up from the cauldron and Uma could already feel herself grow faint. The mist was supposed to drain powerful energies, not to death, but enough that they were average husks of a person. While transferring that energy, and magic, to the Coven. It made them more powerful and eliminated potential enemies right in their tracks.

The remaining four Coven members stood at six windows, facing outwards. Only two were stain glass while the others were crudely cut rectangles that resembled more of a small erratic explosion than a window. Not that the look mattered, the point of it was that these four were to direct their magic outwards to push against the remaining walls of the barrier while the cauldron blasted its center ceiling.

This, while the mini Coven as Uma knew, did the same blasting from their side in Auradon.

She, Calix, Jade, Zevon, Lala, Antiquam and Celia stood behind their parents, supposedly as substitutes in case one shall fall. Though Uma suspected that their parents didn’t trust them by themselves. Though they knew Zevon and Antiquam would be the only loyal ones to do so.

For any moment now, Circe was to turn, turn and back to back with her son blast Mozonroth who stood next to her. Breaking the ley lines.

Uma was concentrating so hard at the hourglass figure of the Grecian sorceress that she had nearly missed Ginny stumble and almost lose her ladle into the cauldron.

Seizing the moment to build on the former momentum of Celia’s suggestion. Playing on the villains paranoidness and alertness for backstabbers.

“Hmmph look at Ginny, she is nearly ruining this for all of us,” Uma talked from the side of her mouth to Zevon who stood next to her. The formerly enrapt teen blinked once, digesting what Uma said. “All because her mother and she can’t have an important place in the spell, they want to ruin it for all.” Uma hissed.

Jade had been working hard the past four days, integrating herself into Zevon’s presence, blocking any of the flirtations that had been occurring between him and Ginny. Instead she batted her eyes and whispered of Ginny’s insane jealousy that she had no magic like the rest of the Coven. That Mother Gothel was bitter for her lowered role as a mere cauldron stirrer and would ruin it all for them because she’d rather have none have power if she couldn’t have power.

And that idea clearly crossed Zevon’s mind as he glared suspiciously at a harried Ginny who was stirring double time to make up for her mistake. Double time that was threatening the steady rhythm they had been doing before. One could already see its effect as a streak of lighting blasted out by crackled and hissed before even reaching the ceiling.

“Bitch,” Zevon breathed through his teeth so sharply that Uma could hear its whistle just before he lunged at Ginny. He clumsily grabbed at the ladle, bumping against the cauldron as he did so. Mother Gothel came to her daughter’s aid, dropping her own ladle to help her daughter in the impromptu tug of war.

“How dare you! You will not ruin this for the rest of us!” Zevon raved.

“Zevon what are you-” Yzla screeched, cut off by the flash of white light from Calix, blasting Zevon to the wall, transforming him into a purple platypus. A strange choice but it got him out of the way.

Circe took her turn and blasted at Mozonroth and his stupified son, transforming them into eels trapped in the flowing robes they usually wore, and then Circe took the extra second of unexpected surprise to blast Mother Gothel, transforming her into a dowdy peahen.

In all the hubbub and animal transformations, the glowing ley lines dimmed as members disappeared and stepped out of line in their surprise and confusion.

Uma let out a loud whistle and as instructed a volley of arrows launched through the windows, piercing Dr. Facilier in the shoulder, and Queen Grimhilde in the back. Small non-fatal wounds but from Queen Grimhilde’s shrieks, one would have thought they scarred her beauteous face.

Uma smiled as her plan came together and when she heard the familiar Scottish brough of her first mate and the sounds of 20, maybe 50 feet thundering about the castle, clashing swords with Maleficent’s henchmen and mooks. “Down with the Coven! “For Uma!” “For the Isle” sounded amid squeals and grunts of bloodshed.

Ducking when Ursula predictably snapped a tentacle to grab at her, Uma leapt and pushed her mother.

Her mother was never easy on land, that’s why she stayed in her den all day watching soaps, but it was almost comical the way the big sea witch swayed slowly from left to right, her tentacles desperately grabbing at Maleficent and Jafar for balance, knocking the two to their knees as she fell backwards into the cauldron.

The lightning streaks shivered and disipated. The mist unfurled back into the cauldron as its potions spilled across the floor. The green bubbles popping and fading, leaving an acid russet stain on the stones.

Yzma and Ginny did not wait, picking up the respective animalian relatives and ran past Uma to the door, Yzma scolding Zevon the whole way.

Celia bent down to her father, tenderly helping him with the arrow lodged in the shoulder. A scene that was bittersweet as Celia helped him. Unable to look him in the eye, the shadow girl focused on the arrow while Dr. Facilier thinly smiled. They didn’t have to say anything. They both knew what side they were on and though they probably wouldn’t be seeing each other after this moment. They still had this moment.

Quite the opposite scene to Nasira and Jafar who were cornering Jade to the wall, Nasira in particular, roughly bumping her golden viper staff against her daughter’s chin. “How dare you ruin this! I should have snuffed the life out of you a long time ago.”

But they had prepared for this. They had trained for this with her crew. She ducked, using her momentum, shewent on her hands, pushing herself up into a handstand. She crossed her legs around Nasira’s arms and pulled her down.

With the sudden wrestling twist, Nasira lost her grip on staff. Jade with her honed thief reflexes grabbed the staff for herself and smashed it across her mother’s jaw, knocking her out.

Although Uma wasn’t fond of the girl, too much like Jay with her lack of loyalty, too much of a lightweight. The look of triumph and amazement from Jade made Uma proud. For the first time, she fought back against her mother. She could see Nasira wasn’t invincible, and with that came a new kind of feeling.

Freedom.

Lala was in her own battle for freedom against her mother, the two grappling on the floor with the growls and hisses like the leopards of their motif. Lala on top, almost pinning La to the ground except the queen had her leopard staff against her daughter’s neck, keeping her from her goal.

That was until Uma threw her sword to Lala and the jungle girl brandished it against La’s throat, a small trickle of blood dripping to the floor. But the older woman used the same move as Jade’s, crossing her legs around Lala’s torso to switch their positions.

However, they had one more trick up their sleeve. As Lala wrestled to keep Lala pinned down and get the sword away from her grip, Jade came up from behind and bonked her on the head.

Jafar skulked away, disappearing in his own puff of flaming ash and smoke along with Nerissa and Maleficent.

And Uma knew better, she usually knew better, but seeing the plan all come together so easily, she allowed her guard down for the moment.

A single moment that her mother seized.

Ursula couldn’t heft herself up but her tentacles grasped Uma’s feet in tandem.

Her world turned upside down literally, the blood rushed down to her head and with her mother’s sunctioned grip she could feel her ankles numb from the tightness.

“You shouldn’t have done this,” Ursula rasped, allowing Uma to swing back and forth for a moment.

But Uma was not going to wait for the other tentacle to drop her.

All her life she had never cared for her mother. A feeling that was mutual since her mother only used her as an employee at the Fish Shop. Honestly Uma was more than an employee, she was practically the owner since she did all the work while her mother stayed in the den. She had never seen her mother move or possess any energy until she joined the Coven.

And her mother, her mother always said relatives and relationships were unimportant. Her brother, King Triton, banned her. Her sister, Morgana resented her and once they were on the Isle, Ursula had made sure Morgana stuck to the other side of the Isle’s sea. Not wanting to deal with Morgana’s ineptitude.

Ursula always said Uma was inept too even though Ursula never saw her. Since she was young, Uma did her best to stay out of Ursula’s way or else suffer an attempted whipping from… Uma was never sure why she got whipped. For being alive. For being another piece of proof of the futility of maintaining familial relationships since Uma’s father left after she was born.

She didn’t know and she didn’t care.

Apathy was her greatest tool when it came to her mother. Uma needed her energy for greater things.

And while she could never say she loved her mother, she would have to spend more time with her for that. Honestly, she didn’t resent her. She wasn’t mad at her for the lack of care. She knew her mother was incapable of it. The blame of neglect, Uma laid that on Auradon’s feet. Auradon knew what kind of people these villains were and allowed them to spawn children anyway. Allowed them to take care of children as if they were capable of such thing as love.

She could thank her mother for neglecting her for so long. It gave her her own identity unlike so many of the Isle kids stuck in their parent’s shadow. She was independent, honed her abilities to take command and be respected unlike the so called princess of the Isle, Mal, who was nothing without the authority of others.

Uma made her own authority and could never obey someone else’s orders.

So for Ursula to say, she shouldn’t have done this. Ursula should have known, she’d never take that as a threat. It was a dare for Uma to do just that.

Uma took in her surroundings. Calix and Circe had raised hands, blue sparks flying from their fingertips but they were frozen because they realized, just as she had, that if they blasted Ursula, Ursula would drop Uma on her head and Uma could possibly be knocked out from the fall. And honestly, they all needed her awake.

Celia, Dr. Facilier, Jade, and Lala were all waiting for her move. None would be of any help to solving this.

As usual she would have to be the one to save the day.

Harry wasn’t here so she couldn’t lock eyes at him, and he’d know to provide a distraction of some sort. But as of now, she could only hear the thunder feet and clashing swords. Closer now so Uma knew the crew would be here soon and the castle would be free for occupation.

She could stall, wait for the crew to barge in and do her plan with Harry.

But Uma was never one for being unnecessarily helpless for long when she could finish this herself.

Maybe it was a bit of the blood in her head, but she thought Ursula was still unsteady. Or maybe it was all the swinging. But one thing was clear that Ursula was waiting for something. She made no move to bash Uma against the wall or scold her more. She was just waiting, with her crocodile smile and continued swing of back and forth back and forth.

Was Ursula seriously waiting for her to beg for forgiveness or something? To cower in fear for disobeying.

Just another reminder of how little Ursula knew her.

Uma hadn’t even done that for Mal and she had liked Mal as her former best friend.

Ursula crossed her arms, her ruby smile turning into a sneer the longer she waited. That one gesture gave Uma the inspiration she needed.

She was so grateful that Gil had prepped her with some of Gaston’s wrestling moves during their fight nights.

She winded up her arm, thumb outside of her fist and focused her anger on her mother’s unmoving face. Focused on her purple skin, just like the purple hair that Mal crowed about while covering Uma’s with shrimp.

And she punched, Uma felt the revertebration on her knuckles. She saw the vibration from Ursula’s folded bulk, vibrating and shivering up each of her tentacles. She swayed backwards, releasing her hold on Uma’s legs, and though her legs were still too numb to catch her fall, Uma was ready for a roll onto her fours.

Ursula fell backwards again. For good as Uma listened to the sound of the sea witch’s head hitting the floor.

The victors stared at each other, none wanting to break the silence or jinx the victory they had made. But it looked like they had done it. Uma stared at the fallen Coven members, unconscious or slithering around uselessly on their eel bellies. They had really done-

Uma paused, counting in her head the members that had fallen, remembering the smoky exits of Maleficent and Jafar. And the mysterious absences of Nerissa and Morgana Le Fey.

“Damnit!” Uma cursed. Though the Coven hadn’t broken the barrier, those four were still capable of using their magic. They couldn’t let them escape! Just then, Harry barged in with the jolly faces of her crew, and the three Agrabahians.

Harry’s eyes shown with the awe that he usually reserved for her and for the triumph of battles won together but she couldn’t revel in that gaze right now.

“Hmmph guess you didn’t need our help after all.” Jay looked around, perturbed from missing the action.

“No, we’re not done. We have to go after Jafar, Maleficent, Nerissa and Morgana before they get off the Isle.” Uma barked.

And then the world went white.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------“The sword of the one true king may you be the holy vessel that allows our blood bind us forever,” Morgana intoned as the gleaming silver sword was dipped into the Beast’s chalice, now with blood, that Kyro had stolen from the musuem.

Alexandria bit her lips nervously as Morgana’s eyes took on the same silvery glow as if she were possessed. The aura flew through the sword surrounding them in a haze as if they were lost in the wooded forest but Alexandria knew from Morgana’s detailed explanation that this was a barrier sealing them from danger even though they could strike out at others.

As if with a will of its own the sword rattled and rose, pulling Morgana’s limp arm to face outward.

Their barrier haze cleared as they could see the view as before. High on Auradon Prep’s balcony they could see the Isle. They could see the Royal Guard dazed and unconscious thanks to Morgana’s knock out spell. No one knew they were here on this dark night where clouds covered every sparkling star.

Alexandria glanced at Victoria, wondering if she was feeling as nervous as she was. If she felt guilty watching the royal guard that she so wanted to join, be their enemies.

But the look on Victoria Porter’s face was nothing but determination. Intently watching Morgana’s spell, waiting for their revolution to start.

Alexandria breathed in deeply again, reminding herself of what had become her mantra. This was for the greater good. This was their revolution. It would all be better soon. This was for the greater good.

The Isle’s storm clouds were turning green and purple, a sight that would surely strike fear into the kingdom if anyone was awake. But they all were blissfully unaware, ignorant as always.

Alexandria focused on that. How ignorant Auradonians were. Ignorant and blissful with polluting the waters of Atlantica, with punishing fae and mermaids for their magical abilities, stripping them of their essence with the damned magic ban while giving favor to Vks who constantly flout the rules and used their magic for evil.

The Camelot sword pointed at the Isle, and with a single glowing white line it blasted the Isle barrier.

Its opaque glimmer disappeared, sparks flew in the shape of an upside bowl and then with a clap of thunder, the shine disappeared. The clouds left.

The barrier was gone.

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imagitory · 6 years ago

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D-Views: The Princess and the Frog (with guest input!)

Hi everybody! Welcome to another installment of D-Views, my on-going written review series focused around the works of the Walt Disney Company, as well as occasionally films made by other studios that were influenced by Disney’s works! For reviews for Disney films like Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and Treasure Planet or non-Disney films like Anastasia, The Nutcracker Prince, or The Prince of Egypt, please consult my “Disney reviews” tag!

I’m super excited about today’s subject -- not only is its heroine my favorite Disney princess, but I also won’t be watching the movie alone! My darling mum, who has in the past helped me review Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has graciously agreed to co-review this with me! We hope that you will join us on this magical adventure through the Louisiana bayou as we review...The Princess and the Frog!

In the early 2000′s, the Walt Disney Company -- especially its animation department -- was in trouble. Of all of the films done in the so-called “Experimental Era,” the only animated film that had made Disney a real profit was 2002′s Lilo and Stitch. The others, even if they did manage to receive favorable reviews, were all financial disappointments. The Emperor’s New Groove was fourth at the box office opening weekend behind movies like What Women Want and How the Grinch Stole Christmas and only grossed about 169 million dollars in theaters worldwide after costing 100 million to make. Brother Bear even now boasts a rather sad 37% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. And even if Atlantis: The Lost Empire hadn’t received such lukewarm reviews and been accused of plagiarizing several other movies (most notably Nadia: The Secret of the Blue Water, Stargate, and, as I’ve discussed previously, Castle in the Sky), it wouldn’t have changed the fact that it was released the same year as Dreamworks’ green monster hit Shrek. But no Experimental Era film did as badly as the last one -- Home on the Range -- which after its release in 2004 was so badly received both by critics and at the box office that it prompted Disney to write down the production costs and announce the closing of its 2D animation department for good.

But it didn’t close for good. In 2006, the new president and chief creative officer of the company, Ed Cadmill and John Lasseter, reversed the decision. The 2D animation department had one last chance to turn their dark destiny around, and in 2009, as Disney did after World War II with Cinderella and in the late 80′s with The Little Mermaid, it pinned its hopes on a beautiful, goodhearted princess.

The Princess and the Frog in some ways was Disney’s attempt to return to their Disney Renaissance roots. Its directors -- John Musker and Ron Clements -- had previously directed The Little Mermaid and Aladdin among others. The reinvented fairy tale story features magic, a theatrical villain, a prince, animal sidekicks, romance, and Broadway-musical-style songs. Even the advertising highlighted how much it wanted to remind millennial audiences of the films they grew up with, putting a spotlight on the music and beautiful hand-drawn animation, rather than the “adult,” meta humor that Dreamworks had used to advertise its films and Disney later used to advertise its next Disney princess movie, Tangled. Some production details leaked to the public, such as the title of “The Frog Princess,” the main character’s original name, and her profession as a chambermaid, also were edited upon receiving backlash, and still others (such as the use of voodoo in the plot and our black princess’s prince not being black) were just left as is. Despite all of the negative press that swirled around the project, there was also a lot of promise that Disney fans noted too, such as Dreamgirls supporting actress Anika Noni Rose being cast as Tiana, Pixar composer Randy Newman being chosen to write the film’s score and songs, and Oprah Winfrey being brought on both as a technical consultant and the voice of Tiana’s mother Eudora.

The marketing decision to focus more on nostalgic millennial adults rather than the new Generation Z is what I feel largely contributed to The Princess and the Frog not being the blockbuster Disney was hoping for. As much as I wholeheartedly believe that animation is not and has never been a children’s medium, the attitude that lingered around the public consciousness in the late 2000′s and sadly even today is that animation -- most importantly, 2D animation -- is for kids, and without the kids being just as excited to watch the film as their nostalgic parents, uncles, aunts, and older siblings, The Princess and the Frog was fighting an uphill battle, even if it was produced by a marketing monster like Disney. Even though the movie was handicapped by this bad marketing choice, however, I would still argue that The Princess and the Frog was a success. Even with that bad marketing choice, the racism-themed controversies that had swirled around its production, and the release of James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar a week later weighing it down, Tiana costumes were selling out everywhere prior to Halloween that year. The movie still was #1 at the box office opening weekend, an honor not held by a Disney animated movie since Lilo and Stitch. It still made $104.4 million and was the fifth highest grossing film that year. It still earned pretty favorable reviews, earning an 85% at Rotten Tomatoes.

Sadly, because The Princess and the Frog wasn’t the big blockbuster that The Little Mermaid had been, Disney turned its focus more toward its 3D projects, and after the release of Winnie the Pooh in 2011 (the same weekend as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 -- COME ON, DISNEY, WERE YOU EVEN TRYING TO GIVE THIS FILM A CHANCE??), the 2D department did close its doors after all, and the studio went in a new direction with the release of Tangled. It’s a choice I lament Disney making, for as much as I’ve enjoyed most of the 3D entries to the Disney Revival, there was something so utterly magical about seeing The Princess and the Frog’s premiere at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank with my mother back in 2009. 2D animation is a beautiful art form, and it’s frustrating that Disney has turned its back on it so thoroughly after it got Disney to where it is now. The Princess and the Frog could’ve been the Great Mouse Detective to another 2D film that could’ve been a Little Mermaid and proved once again that 2D animation is for everyone, not just for kids, just as Little Mermaid did. But instead, the film that was the Revival version of The Little Mermaid was Disney’s first 3D princess film, Tangled -- and not to diss Tangled as a film, but it saddens me that it succeeded largely by playing to the public’s ignorant attitude that 3D animation is more “adult” than 2D animation and that the way to communicate that your animated movie is “for adults too” in your trailers is through using snarky meta humor rather than through artistry and complex themes.

With all this background out of the way...laissez le beau temps rouler! Let’s start the film!

Anika’s singing voice starting our film out is just a perfect introduction. Its pure, unassuming tone just ripples with sincerity as we are led into our introductory scene for our main character Tiana, her mother Eudora, and her absolutely hysterical best friend, Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff. As we leave the La Bouff manor, we also see a touch of the “Lady and the Tramp influence” that Musker and Clements added to the production in the background design. Just by transitioning from the well-kept, affluent neighborhood in the dimming sunlight to the more run-down areas of town at night, we get a perfect, complete sense of the environment that our heroine lives in, all without any dialogue. And yet, as Mum pointed out, even the rundown areas are full of warmth and charm. Just like in Lady and the Tramp, they never look scary or shady, simply modest and maybe a little worn. On the note of charm, as well, I absolutely friggin’ adore Tiana’s dad, James. Considering how big of a role he has in the story, it’s really good that we see how big of an impact he had on his daughter through his good, hard-working attitude and love for his family and neighborhood despite not having much screen-time.

Once the “Walt Disney Pictures” banner floats by, we finally meet Tiana as an adult. As mentioned earlier, Tiana is my favorite Disney princess. Part of the reason why comes back to the fact that Tiana’s movie came out right before I started my first job (ironically enough at a restaurant in Disney World) and she inspired me to give 120% everyday, but the other reason Tiana speaks to me so much is because she reminds me quite a bit of Mum! Like my mother, Tiana is a very warmhearted, logical, and hardworking person who never sits on her laurels and is always ready to fix a problem, and it was really cool to see a Disney princess with the same kind of organized mind and stubborn work ethic that I saw in my mum growing up. That feeling I had watching Tiana’s story is one of the things that inspired me to write my Disney crossover story TrueMagic, where I wrote a character directly inspired by Mum. On top of all that, I realize that Tiana speaks a lot of the millennial and gen Z experience, having to save up a lot of money at two dead-end minimum wage jobs just to try to get ahead in a world where the cards are stacked against her. We even see her sleeping in the room she grew up in, meaning she’s still living at home as an adult to make ends meet!! Isn’t that relatable!!

I have heard others critique Randy Newman’s music, but in my opinion the score and songs developed for this movie perfectly set the mood of 1920′s New Orleans. The opening number “Down in New Orleans” is really well-paced with the medley of scenes introducing Tiana’s usual work day, Dr. Facilier’s vindictiveness and desire for Eli La Bouff’s wealth, Naveen’s playboy attitude, and Charlotte’s instant attraction to the newly arrived Prince. Of the songs, I’d personally cite Tiana’s “Almost There” and Facilier’s “Friends on the Other Side” as the strongest links, with “Gonna Take You There” as the weakest, but even if you don’t end up finding the songs catchy, I don’t think anyone can deny how well it suits the film’s setting.

Now admittedly, one critique you could give the film is its idealized, whitewashed view of historical race relations. Let’s be honest: in the 1920′s, a rich cotton baron like Eli La Bouff would not have visited a cafe on Tiana’s side of town and he would not let his precious daughter engage with Tiana as an adult either. As much as there were people who didn’t follow the common attitude that black Americans were somehow “inferior” to white Americans, if you didn’t follow that attitude, you couldn’t have expected to be very financially successful or influential in such a racist society, as Mr. La Bouff is. On top of that, Tiana would not only be facing passive prejudice when trying to open her own restaurant, like the kind the Fenner brothers express about her “background” -- she would also be likely facing active discrimination and potentially violence. As much as this film doesn’t truly represent the way things were back then, however, I would argue that the decision in the end benefits the picture, which clearly is supposed to be a fairy tale. This is a story where a girl kisses a frog, becomes one herself, meets an alligator who plays the blues and a firefly in love with a star, and both fights against and alongside people who practice voodoo. It may have a historical backdrop, kind of like Pocahontas and The Great Mouse Detective do, but it is still a fantasy. There are other films that aim to teach us about how things really were back then, so why can’t we have one where a young black American lives her own fairy tale in the iconic Crescent City? Plus, in Mum’s words, an integral part of this story is the pure, unlikely friendship between Charlotte and Tiana, which would have been close to impossible in a completely historical setting. To my memory, it’s actually one of the few times we see a close friendship between two female contemporaries in a Disney princess movie -- the closest we’d had previously were relationships like Aurora with the three fairies (which was more of a familial relationship) and Belle and Mrs. Potts (which...yeah, big generation gap). Even in films that came later, we have Elsa and Anna, but they’re sisters, not just friends. And Tiana having a friend like Charlotte ends up being pivotal in her eventual triumph.

Speaking of Charlotte and her friendship with Tiana, something I love about her is that she doesn’t just give Tiana the money she needs to open her own restaurant. Instead, because she knows Tiana has pride and wouldn’t just accept the money for nothing, Charlotte finds a reason for her to give her the money she needs by assigning her the task of making beignets for the ball she and her father are hosting. It’s something that reminds me a bit of my mum and her best friend, who also comes from a wealthy family -- like Charlotte, my mum’s best friend likes spending money on my mum, but has always known that she can’t buy my mum’s friendship. Both she and Charlotte know that you can only be a friend through expressing sincere caring, which is the mark of a true friend.

Ever since The Princess and the Frog first came out, “Almost There” has been my work mantra, and every time I hear it, I just am full of drive and excitement. The animation for this sequence -- animated by senior Disney icon Eric Goldberg, who previously worked on the Rhapsody in Blue segment in Fantasia 2000 and was the supervising animator for the Genie in Aladdin -- is also pitch perfect, incorporating both Al Hiershfeld-inspired designs and an Art Deco vibe to envelope us in Tiana’s fantasy. It’s one of the kind of artistic risks that Disney used to do more often, like the Pink Elephants sequence in Dumbo, the fairy’s gift sequences in Sleeping Beauty, and the Zero to Hero sequence in Hercules, and you just don’t see this sort of highly stylized song sequence in most of Disney’s newer films. The only one that comes to mind is the “You’re Welcome” sequence in Moana, which ironically enough also featured Eric Goldberg drawing all of Maui’s “Mini-Maui” tattoos! Those sorts of stylized musical numbers is something I’d love to see more of in the Disney Revival, because it gives the film in question such character and can bring an already great song to new heights.

Naveen is a character who I could’ve very easily disliked upon first meeting him. Obnoxious, selfish, and/or vain characters -- such as Lightning McQueen from Cars or even Kuzco from The Emperor’s New Groove -- really tend to rub me the wrong way, unless there is something in the character at the very beginning that makes me want to see them improve themselves. Fortunately our main prince is saved for me because we see that along with his vain, shallow, playboy attitude, he also expresses a great love of music and living life to the fullest. He doesn’t ignore his responsibilities as a prince just to be rebellious or lazy, but because he is so in love with New Orleans and its culture. He isn’t an angry or willfully condescending person: he immediately starts dancing with regular New Orleans citizens and is enthralled with the moves of a tiny street entertainer. And just as Tiana represents the millennial experience through working multiple jobs just to make ends meet, Naveen expresses a different kind of millennial experience -- that of being so sheltered by one’s privilege that, once you’re on your own, you’re incapable of sustaining the life style you’ve become accustomed to and are led by society to believe you should be able to achieve. At this point, it’s still easy to feel sorry for Lawrence, Naveen’s resident “Peter Pettigrew-look-alike” manservant, though that impulse quickly disappears after we see his interactions with our villain, Dr. Facilier. Speaking of which...

Just as Tiana is my favorite Disney princess, Dr. Facilier is my favorite Disney villain. Voiced by Keith David, the man who previously gave life to Goliath in Disney’s Gargoyles, the so-called “Shadowman” is -- in Mum’s words -- just “deliciously evil.” His voice drips with cold charisma, dipping into rich bass tones but never sounding groggy or lacking in energy, and the animation -- done by Bruce W. Smith, supervising animator for Oscar Proud from the Disney Channel show The Proud Family -- just fits David’s line-reads like a glove. Although Lawrence briefly provokes Facilier, effectively foreshadowing his true viciousness, the witch doctor largely puts on a theatrical persona that entices even the most jaded viewers in with his song “Friends on the Other Side.” Mum brought up the wonderful comparison to Oogie Boogie in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and just like Oogie Boogie, Facilier’s number feels very unscripted and spontaneous, and yet it’s still conniving. Even though the song is jazzy and oddly conversational, there’s this dangerous, sinister darkness echoing in the background, not just in the echoing voices of the Friends on the Other Side but in the lyrics with multiple meanings (”when I look into your future, it’s the green that I’ve seen”). Along with the theatricality, however, Facilier doesn’t forget to also be very intimidating as a villain -- the scene where he turns Naveen into a frog gets quite scary in its imagery.

Just as everything seems to have come up roses for her, Tiana is suddenly about to lose the restaurant of her dreams for good. But there is still hope -- or, at least...there’s a frog. Or a prince. A frog pri -- you get the point. Interestingly Naveen, while a frog, reminded Mum and me of two very different characters. Mum immediately thought of Aladdin, thanks to his charming, smiling expressions, while I immediately thought of another frog seeking a kiss from a beautiful girl: Jean-Bob from The Swan Princess. I personally think the second of those is a coincidence, given that Jean-Bob and Naveen really don’t have much in common excluding a flamboyant accent, but Aladdin’s influence on Naveen’s character animation is pretty reasonable. After all, Flynn Rider’s design was also influenced by previous Disney princes.

Not having seen this movie in a while, I’d forgotten about the “frog hunters” sequence in the middle of the movie until it came on screen. I know that Tiana and Naveen had to face multiple dangers before they reached Mama Odie, not just for dramatic storytelling but also to help cement their budding relationship...but I’m sorry, the characters of the frog hunters are just...uncomfortable. The stereotypical portrayal just comes across as very mean-spirited, especially when compared to the great respect for New Orleans culture in the rest of the movie. The scene does give Tiana and Naveen good character development, though, so it’s a flaw I can overlook to enjoy the rest of the movie.

Usually I don’t enjoy Disney “sidekick” characters as much as I do more developed main or side characters, but I will grant that as sidekicks go, Louis the alligator and especially Ray the firefly are among the better ones. Louis is kind of there for humor more than to advance the plot at all, which is a shame, but Ray becomes both ridiculously charming and central to the film’s theme of love when we see his romantic side in his song “Ma Belle Evangeline.” This song has special significance to Mum and me, all because of Mum’s little Russian Blue/Short-Hair kitty, Evangeline, or Eva for short. When Eva and her sister Ella (full name Cinderella) were being driven home from the pound, the two cats were absolutely beside themselves, crying and yowling the whole way. The only thing that quieted them was me singing songs to them, including songs based on their names -- Cinderella’s opening theme (”Cinderella, you’re as lovely as your name”) for Ella, and “Ma Belle Evangeline” for Eva. Even now, Eva knows that that song is her song, and she always relaxes whenever she hears it. The song sequence in the film also beautifully reflects Tiana and Naveen’s budding relationship, which has already affected them enough that they are starting to take influence from each other. Tiana has started to open up and have some fun, while Naveen is more able to acknowledge his shortcomings and takes more responsibility. They even see eye to eye enough that they stop Louis from telling Ray that Evangeline is a star, not a firefly. Tiana/Naveen is my Disney OTP mainly because of that influence that they have on each other. Both of them are such beautifully flawed characters, but they both also teach and encourage each other to be better people than they would have been on their own.

Tiana and Naveen learn that if they want to turn human again, they need help from Charlotte, who will be “princess” of the Mardi Gras Parade until midnight that night. Unfortunately, when Tiana finds Charlotte, she finds her about to marry who she thinks is Naveen on a float in the parade. Admittedly I kind of wonder why Tiana didn’t consider that it might not be Naveen, as earlier she saw a human Naveen dancing with Charlotte before meeting frog!Naveen and so should know there’s an imposter, but I suppose it’s just story convention, to have this kind of a pre-climax misunderstanding. It’s the same reason why Naveen is locked in a box on the float where he can interrupt the wedding, rather than being stowed away more securely somewhere else, or why Charlotte didn’t turn into a frog too after not being able to turn Tiana and Naveen back.

At long last, our climax arrives. After Dr. Facilier “lays Ray low” in a scene that makes both Mum and me cry out in grief, he corners Tiana in the graveyard, enticing her with the dream she’s worked so hard for in the hopes of getting the medallion that would allow Lawrence to impersonate Naveen and Facilier to steal the La Bouff fortune. But because of all of the character development Tiana’s gone through, she remembers what’s really important -- the people she loves -- and she outdoes the Shadowman, condemning him to be yanked down into the underworld by his so-called “Friends” for all time. The growth Tia’s gone through also gives her the strength and courage needed to put her dream aside and tell Naveen about her feelings for him. And because she’s a true friend, Charlotte shows no hint of bitterness about missing out on her “happily ever after” with Naveen -- instead she immediately is supportive of her friend and tries to fight for her happiness, to the extent that she looks over the moon when Tiana and Naveen get married as humans. Even Ray, who Mum wishes desperately had been able to make it, achieves happiness by finally becoming a star beside his beloved Evangeline. As our film comes to an end with a reprise of “Down in New Orleans,” we’re left with a sense of triumph and optimism...two things that embody our newly crowned princess beautifully.

The Princess and the Frog is a movie that, in Mum’s and my opinion, should receive much more appreciation that it has. Financially speaking, it only did about as well as The Great Mouse Detective and Lilo and Stitch in theaters, but it still has left a lasting impact. I still see plenty of little girls dressing as Tiana in the parks, and I still hear about young black women and girls who have found validation and comfort in the first African American Disney princess. Even I, who share a complexion with white bread, find Tiana an engaging, brilliant role model in today’s world -- in Mum’s words, she embraces the idea of success being half inspiration and half perspiration, but she also learns the virtue in disregarding the chase for success when it comes at the cost of your values. She learns how to love, how to grow, and how to change, while also encouraging the best from those around her. The Princess and the Frog also features what I would argue is the best Disney animated villain since the Disney Renaissance, a soundtrack that embraces its setting to the Nth degree, and a prince who grows just as much as his love interest does while they are together. It’s not a perfect film, but no film is, and Mum and I hope that like other Disney films that didn’t make much money on their initial theatrical releases, we as a Disney fanbase can make this movie a cult classic and give it the love it fought so hard to earn and so rightfully deserves. Look how it lights up the screen -- ma belle Princess and the Frog!

#d-views #disney reviews #mum and tory watch together!!#disney #the princess and the frog #reviews #opinion #analysis #oh boy here i go

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elsanna-shenanigans · 6 years ago

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October 2019 Voting Results

... Poll closed? Check. Graph made? Check. Winner announced? Ch--

A quick reminer list of our contestants this month:

1. Do You Have A Little Time For Me? - Fruipit (ff.net) | (AO3) | (Tumblr)

2. Castaway - Fruipit (ff.net) | (AO3) | (Tumblr)

3. My Date With a Mavka - JennaSW (ff.net) | (AO3) | (elsannafanfiction)

4. Dr. Facilier’s Shop - JennaSW (ff.net) | (AO3) | (elsannafanfiction)

5. The Measure of a Soul - gryffinwhor (ff.net) | (AO3) | (Tumblr)

6. I’m A Sucker For You - gryffinwhor (ff.net) | (AO3) | (Tumblr)

7. With A Chaser - MegaTank (ff.net) | (AO3)

And the Highest Stake (heh) goes to:

The Measure of a Soul! Huge congrats to the author, and to everyone else wh participated this month! See you next time, and in the Elsannafest starting tomorrow!

#elsanna #october 2019 contest #voting results #prompt: urban fantasy

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parkersharthook · 7 years ago

Text

Girl Meets Descendants

Character Descriptions/Background

The characters of Girl Meets World thrown into the Descendants Universe. So what happens when Maya (maleficient’s daughter) and Farkle (dr. facilier’s son) are stuggling between their feelings for certain Auradonian kids and the mission they were sent to accomplish. [descendants 1 storyline with more characters]

Mal Paha

Physical

Age: 18, senior

Height: 5’2”

Build: slim

Skills: dark magic, fighting, music

Appearance

Hair: shoulder length and wavy, deep purple

Complexion: fare, almond beige

Facial: bright green eyes, full dark pink lips

Personal

Name: Paha means evil in Finnish

Family: daughter of maleficent, older sister of Maya

Friends: Evie, Maya, Jay, Carlos, Farkle

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: abused by mother, had to fight to survive

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything she had

Personality

Fears: her mother, disappointing her mother

Goals: to make her mother respect her, to be in control of her life

Practices

Wears: any shirt, purple leather jacket, black ripped jeans, black combat boots with small heel

Buys: nothing, steals

Evie Grimhilde

Physical

Age: 18, senior

Height: 5’8”

Build: slim, tall

Skill: fighting, fashion, makeup

Appearance

Hair: long and curly, navy blue

Complexion: medium, caramel beige

Facial: dark blue eyes, full light pink lips

Personal

Name: Grimhilde is the name of the evil queen

Family: daughter of the evil queen, only child

Friends: Mal, Maya, Jay, Carlos, Farkle

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: pressured by mother to be the best, had to fight to survive

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything she had

Personality

Fears: her mother, not being pretty or loved

Goals: to marry a prince, to live happily ever after

Practices

Wears: long sleeve blue shirts with plunging necklines, black skirts, fishnet tights, black booties with small heel

Buys: nothing, steals

Maya Paha

Physical

Age: 17, junior

Height: 5’1”

Build: curvy, short

Skill: dark magic, fighting, art

Appearance

Hair: long and straight, dark green

Complexion: light, natural beige

Facial: dark green eyes, full pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Paha means evil in Finnish

Family: daughter of maleficent, younger sister of Mal

Friends: Evie, Mal, Jay, Carlos, Farkle

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: abused by mother, had to fight to survive

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything she had

Personality

Fears: her mother, being stuck on the isle

Goals: to be respected, to make something of herself

Practices

Wears: any form fitting top, old black leather jacket, dark purple skinny jeans, over the knee black boots with medium heel

Buys: nothing, steals

Jay Varas

Physical

Age: 18, senior

Height: 6’

Build: muscular

Skill: stealing, fighting, sports

Appearance

Hair: shoulder length and curly, natural brown

Complexion: tan, olive brown

Facial: dark brown eyes, thin light pink lips

Personal

Name: Varas means thief in Latvian

Family: son of jafar, has an unknown brother

Friends: Mal, Maya, Evie, Carlos, Farkle

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: forced into thievery, neglected by father

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything he had

Personality

Fears: being forgotten

Goals: to be remembered, to be honored

Practices

Wears: red beanie, dark tshirts, blue jeans, black boots

Buys: nothing, steals

Carlos DeVil

Physical

Age: 17, junior

Height: 5’6”

Build: lean but muscular

Skill: fighting, dancing

Appearance

Hair: short and lightly spiked up, silver/platinum with dark roots (past zayn malik vibes)

Complexion: medium, golden beige

Facial: dark gray eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: DeVil is from the movie

Family: son of Cruella DeVil, only child

Friends: Evie, Maya, Jay, Mal, Farkle

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: abused by mother, controlled by fear, had to fight to survive

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything he had

Personality

Fears: his mother, dogs

Goals: to rule his own life

Practices

Wears: white vneck shirts, red leather jacket, black jeans, black boots

Buys: nothing, steals

Farkle Facilier

Physical

Age: 17, junior

Height: 6’4”

Build: skinny but still strong

Skill: voodoo, potions, science

Appearance

Hair: short and lightly spiked up (S3 vibes), natural dark brown

Complexion: light, sand beige

Facial: dark brown eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Facilier is from the movie

Family: son of dr. facilier, only child

Friends: Mal, Maya, Jay, Carlos, Evie

Birthplace: Isle of the Lost

Childhood: neglect by father, always alone, had to fight to survive

Education: awful school system on isle

Wealth: poor, stole everything she had

Personality

Fears: dark magic, the other side

Goals: to live by his own rules

Practices

Wears: black glasses, purple tshirts, black bomber jacket, black skinny jeans, white and black converse high tops

Buys: nothing, steals

Audrey Rose

Physical

Age- 18, senior

Height- 5’4”

Build- slim

Skill- manipulation, makeup

Appearance

Hair- shoulder length and wavy, brown

Complexion- deep, golden brown

Facial- dark brown eyes, full dark lips

Personal

Name: Briar Rose was her mother’s alias in the woods

Family- daughter of aurora and phillip, has two sisters

Friends- Jane, Riley, Ben, Chad, Lucas

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- always been praised and supported, grew up entitled

Education- went to private schools, best education possible

Wealth- rich, got anything she wanted

Personality

Fears- the isle, the kids of the isle, maleficent

Goals- to become queen, to be the most popular

Practices

Wears- baby pink dresses, blue chunky heel Steve madden

Buys- nothing, has people to do that for her, always given to her

Jane Peri

Physical

Age- 17, junior

Height- 5’2”

Build- slightly thicker, not fat

Skill- obedience, party planning

Appearance

Hair- bob cut and straight, black

Complexion- fair, warm ivory

Facial- dark brown eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Peri means fairy in Turkish

Family- daughter of the fairy godmother, only child

Friends- Audrey, Riley, Ben, Chad, Lucas

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- pressured by mother, sheltered, still loved

Education- best schools in auradon

Wealth- taught to earn money, still rich

Personality

Fears- dark magic, villains

Goals- to break out of mother’s grasp

Practices

Wears- light blue dresses with short sleeves and collars, white kitten heels

Buys- nothing, people provide for her

Riley Fitzherbert

Physical

Age- 17, junior

Height- 5’6”

Build- skinny

Skill- sewing, hair styling

Appearance

Hair- medium length and wavy, brown

Complexion- medium, caramel beige

Facial- light brown eyes, thin light pink lips

Personal

Name: Fitzherbert is Eugene’s birth name

Family- daughter of Rapunzel and Eugene, has a younger brother (Eli)

Friends- Audrey, Jane, Ben, Chad, Lucas

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- always been supported and praised, wonderful family

Education- best schools in Auradon

Wealth- rich, had anything and everything

Personality

Fears- the isle, the unknown

Goals- to be queen, to be happy

Practices

Wears- floral purple sundresses, white chunky heels

Buys- nothing, has people do that for her

Ben Florian

Physical

Age- 17, junior

Height- 5’11”

Build- lean but muscular

Skill- sports, natural leader

Appearance

Hair- short, natural brown (from the movie)

Complexion- light, yellow beige

Facial- light green eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Florian is from the movie

Family- son of belle and adam, only child

Friends- Audrey, Jane, Riley, Chad, Lucas

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- picture perfect childhood

Education- best of the best schools in auradon

Wealth- very rich

Personality

Fears- failing his kingdom

Goals- to be a good king

Practices

Wears- white tshirts, blue blazer/jacket, khaki pants, vans

Buys- nothing, gets anything he wants

Chad Charming

Physical

Age- 18, senior

Height- 6’

Build- muscular

Skill- sports, nothing else

Appearance

Hair- short, natural brown (from the movie)

Complexion- medium, golden beige

Facial- dark brown eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Charming is from the movie

Family- son of Cinderella and Henry, twin of Lucas

Friends- Audrey, Jane, Riley, ben, Lucas

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- praised for everything, thinks he can do no wrong

Education- best schools in auradon

Wealth- very rich

Personality

Fears- villain kids, not being popular

Goals- to be praised by everyone

Practices

Wears- yellow polos, blue letterman jacket, khaki pants, grey oxfords

Buys- nothing, gets everything he wants

Lucas Charming

Physical

Age- 18, senior

Height- 6’4”

Build- muscular

Skill- sports, math

Appearance

Hair- short and lightly spiked up (S3 vibes), natural dark brown

Complexion- light, sand beige

Facial- dark brown eyes, thin pale pink lips

Personal

Name: Charming is from the movie

Family- son of Cinderella and Henry, twin of Chad

Friends- Audrey, Jane, Riley, Ben, Chad

Birthplace- Auradon

Childhood- praised for everything

Education- best schools in auradon

Wealth- very rich

Personality

Fears- disappointing people

Goals- to be the best he can be

Practices

Wears- white tshirts, blue letterman jacket, khaki joggers, black yeezys, grey hoodie

Buys- nothing, gets everything he wants

NEXT PART (CH. 1)

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drclaudiosaracinodcsworld · 3 years ago

Video

youtube

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plotdesigner · 7 years ago

Text

Diamonds For Destiny:

Ch. 33/Day 26: Terminated

Chapters: 31/34 Fandom: Kingdom Hearts, The Princess and the Frog (2009) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Dr. Facilier/Luxord Characters: Luxord, Dr. Facilier, Dr. Facilier's Shadow, Zexion, Vexen, Lexaeus Additional Tags: Slice of Life, Cultural Differences, Alien Cultural Differences, Pre-Kingdom Hearts I, Family Drama, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Disabled Character of Color, POV Character of Color, White Privilege, Racism, Period-Typical Racism, Magic, Materia, Aftermath of Violence, Childbirth, Mild Blood, Clones, Baby Names, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Nightmares, Past Violence, references to lynching, Asexuality, Misunderstandings, Gift Giving, Slow Burn, Canon - Kingdom Hearts I Series: Part 4 of Dead Men's Party Summary:

Luxord is an undead creature, soulless, a demon hunter capable of going toe to toe with the biggest and baddest in New Orleans. He's also paying Doctor Facilier a gemstone an hour to take him to the best restaurants in the French Quarter while he gossips about his annoying co-workers, and trains Facilier in magic - real magic, not sleight of hand - in preparation for recruitment into Luxord's Organization. It's Facilier's favorite job.

But the keyblade has chosen a wielder, and now Luxord must balance his duties observing Sora and his desire to bask in Facilier's presence. The days are counting down to when Facilier realizes what helping the Organization really entails...

OR: Rocks fall, and the Organization gets word that there’s been a death at Castle Oblivion. Luxord does not react well to news that his parents and little brother may be threatened by a 14 year old with a giant key, and Xigbar doesn’t react at all.

#kingdom hearts #princess and the frog #luxord #facilier #fanfic #luxfaci

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nolasource · 6 years ago

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PATF 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY COUNTDOWN

Day 8: Favorite Dr. Facilier Trait / Aspect

#patfedit #tpatfedit #disneyedit #filmedit #animationedit #fyeahdisney #disneynetwork #dailyanimatedpoc #pocdisneys #queentianas #the princess and the frog #ours: gifs #ch: dr. facilier #event: anniversary countdown #yknow i was anticipating people voting on his cunning / charismatic personality #but his dancing is still a lot of fun #my favorite has and will always be that last gif

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wltdsnywrld · 7 years ago

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Directory

You can find most things on this blog by searching category: thing (park: mk, film: mulan, land: asia, ch: judy, tunes: aladdin). Not every tag is filled and some things aren’t linked here that may have posts. If you’re looking for anything/have any requests our inbox is always open!

Films | Characters:

Aladdin ♫ | Jasmine, Aladdin, Genie, Jafar

Alice in Wonderland | Alice, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, Caterpillar, Tweedledee/dum

Bambi | Bambi, Flower, Thumper

Beauty and the Beast ♫ | Beast, Belle, Gaston, Lefou, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts

Big Hero 6 | Baymax, Hiro, Go Go, Honey Lemon, Fred, Wasabi

Brave | Merida

Cinderella ♫ | Cinderella, Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, Anastasia, Drizella

Dumbo | Dumbo

Fantasia ♫

Finding Nemo/Dory | Nemo, Dory, Marlin

Frozen ♫ | Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, Hans

Hercules ♫ | Hercules, Megara, Philoctetes, Muses, Hades

Hunchback of Notre Dame ♫ | Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Hugo, Frollo

Incredibles | Bob, Helen, Violet, Dash, Jack Jack, Frozone, Edna Mode

Inside Out | Riley, Disgust, Sadness, Joy, Anger, Fear, Bing Bong

Jungle Book ♫ | Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie, Kaa, Bagheera

Lilo and Stitch ♫ | Lilo, Stitch, Nani, Pleakley, Jumba

Lion King ♫ | Mufasa, Simba, Nala, Pumbaa, Timon, Scar, Rafiki

Little Mermaid ♫ | Ariel, Prince Eric, King Triton, Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle, Ursula

Moana ♫ | Moana, Maui, Tala, Ta Ka, Ta Fiti

Monsters Inc | Sully, Mike, Boo, Randal

Mulan ♫ | Mulan, Li Shang, Mushu

Nightmare Before Christmas ♫ | Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, Mayor

Peter Pan | Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell, John, Michael, The Lost Boys, Hook

Pocahontas ♫ | Pocahontas, John Smith, Gov. Ratcliffe

Princess and the Frog ♫ | Tiana, Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, Louis, Mama Odie, Charlotte

Sleeping Beauty | Aurora, Maleficent, Prince Phillip

Snow White | Snow White, Evil Queen, Dwarfs, The Prince

Tangled ♫ | Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Mother Gothel

Tarzan ♫ | Tarzan, Jane, Terk, Kala, Prof. Porter

Toy Story ♫ | Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Mr. Potato Head

Winnie the Pooh ♫ | Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore

Wreck-It Ralph | Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, King Candy, Calhoun

Zootopia | Judy, Nick, Bellwether

Misc & Multi film links here!

Main

#chlist1 #taagz

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 5 years ago

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Winner’s Curse Ch. 18

Another long one but I felt it was needed to flesh out Jade who is basically a blank slate in the books, and it was fun to dive into the family dynamics of Aladdin villains. TW: abuse. Enjoy!

“All right let’s go” Uma commanded as Gil ran off at his captain’s behest/ The group began walking when Jordan stopped to ask the figure still standing by the balcony. “Aren’t you going with them?”

Uma audibly sighed, showing her irritation but Jade flopped back down on the ottoman to listen, she was curious, besides she hated the political meetings. It was all just infighting and boundry setting and for people like Uma to fight who was more powerful.

“No. My mom wants me to be the high priestess of Opar, not it’s princess. I’m not needed for political meetings if I’m not destined to rule.” Lala’s tone was all nonchalance but Jade sensed it was a lie.

And a lie she found when she searched her face, and saw the tall tale sign. Several signs actually. She was examining her nails rather than looking them in the eye, licking her lips and clenching her teeth.

Liar, liar, liar.

Sooo obvious too. Jade had learned to control those revealing twitches when she was like 7.

“Aziz can join me. You can watch me practice the magic of ancient Atlantis. Lost to all time and elusive to all.” Lala swung her arms dramatically, her accent becoming more pronounced and loud, mimicking her mother’s self-indulgent proclamations.

Seeing that Aziz was about to walk out beside Lala like he was a regular every person of equal standing and not the slave boy they were trying to sell him as.

Honestly did these people not know how to sell to a lie. They had to make it believable!

“Hey!” Jade threw an arm out, “Few steps behind. You’re not a prince here, slave boy.”

She added her trademark wicked smirk to soften the words. Well she hoped it made the words gentler. Sometimes the wicked smirk backfired and people misinterpreted it as her rubbing it in. Or other times when she was trying to goad someone like the Gaston twins and they thought she was flirting. Ugh it was so annoying that she couldn’t control the reaction to her smirk.

At least Aziz seemed to understand her intent and mockingly bowed to her, “So sorry princess.” He turned to Lala and grabbed her hand and kissed the back of her hand as he followed her out, “My priestess.”

With that settled the genie girl went back to her bottle that Calix was holding and they set off in silence which unnerved Jade.

Silence was never a good thing in her experience. It always signaled an impending ambush.

“He didn’t kiss my hand.” Jade fake pouted thinking of the first thing that came to mind as they stalked through the long dark hall.

“Yeah yeah, let’s just go to the Coven meeting before Nerissa complains that we’re late again.” Uma rolled her eyes, picking up the pace, and Jade bristled. She knew people tended to underestimate her friendly, joking attitude. That’s what she wanted, it made people drop their guard low enough for her to steal but still... it was annoying how people thought they could just roll their eyes in front of her.

She was the best thief on the Isle. She had skills and they knew it even if her attitude didn’t always reflect how serious she took her pickpocketing. Come on, she practically stole every one of Captain Hook’s pirate hats without getting caught by his rowdy, drunken crew. She was not to be underestimated.

They didn’t need to roll her eyes when she talked as if she was an insignificant idiot.

So she pushed past Uma who was in the lead and strutted her way to the large half circle table that Morgain Le Fey had suggested to be their meeting table to avoid even more fighting. The adults sat on the interior and their kids on their interior so they sat across from each other with a clear view of the rest.

Jade slowed her swaying hips as she approched her seat across from her mom whose lips were already turned down in disgust. Her mother was forever exasperated when Jade did things like flirting or strutting or simply acting nonchalant, seeing it as more evidence that she had no ambitions and was too flighty to make something of herself.

Not that she cared. At least she had to remind herself that she didn’t care. It was part of her new “Keep yourself sane” plan ever since Mom decided to take an interest in her life and make her into a sorceress like she was.

15 years of neglect, only paying attention when Jade was in trouble and now she wanted Jade to make someone to be proud of?

No way. She would try to learn sorcery just to get her mom off her back and hold off the rain of punches but she wasn’t going to waste her time acting the part of evil sorceress to win her mother’s approval.

She gave up a long time ago the hope that her mom would ever change her mind to love her. Or her mother would change in general.

Jade looked around at the rest of the room. Most of the people were here. Like Celia and Dr. Facilier were at the right end of the half circle playing some sort of bakor card game and next to them were Zevon and Yzma crabbily whispering to each other. Well Yzma was whispering and pulling at Zevon’s ear while Zevon just cowered. Yzla was no where to be seen which made sense. Yzla usually ditched anything that involved spending time with hercrazy, hairball hacking mom, preferring the chance to concot chemistry explosions in the secret lab without her family’s interference or unneeded advice.

Next to Yzma was Uncle Jafar, polishing his staff and brushing Iago off his shoulder wheneverthe ornery parrot got too close to take a look at his beak. Jay was still a hypnotized statue, standing in front of his chair, waiting to be instructed on what to do.

Jade had to resist the urge to command him to sit down and generally not ignore him. But it wasn’t her place to.

They were just cousins and on the Isle that was the same level of trust and caring as a sidekick and his boss. There was none. She couldn’t act like she gave a damn about Jay’s well being, not if she wanted to have her mom kick her bleeding heart out of her chest like she was always threatening to do.

The seat next to her mom was occupied by a brooding Mozonroth, tapping his fingers impatiently as he stared at the empty seat across from him/next to her that should be occupied by her nephew. Strange that he hadn’t arrived yet. Antiqam was so like his father being meticulous and punctual and methodical in everything he did. Being late just wasn’t him.

It was just as well. If there was a relative that she didn’t give a damn about. It would be her half brother, Mozonroth and his equally repulsive son, Antiqam.

Her half-brother just creeped her out with how he always sounded like he was flirting with everyone. The suaveness belying his ruthless demenour underneath and Antiqam followed in his footsteps being too touchy-feely with groping someone’s chest as he described how he wanted to stab them in the heart.

Most people were in awe of their ruthlessness, hoping to aspire to them like those who wished to be the next Mistress of Evil after Maleficent. Or they feared them for those same reasons. But, she, she saw nothing to fear and nothing to idolize. Just hate.

And if she was being honest, a part of her dislike toward them was pettiness because they were her mother’s favorites. Like it was her fault that she was born on the Isle and she had had no chance to take over any area in Agrabah. Even if she was to conquer some place on the Isle, what would it be? The garbage shack on the South Side? What a score.

She looked to her left, hoping to distract herself from thinking of annying family members and saw thst Uma was absentmindedly drawing words and drawings on the table, no doubt planning out the next steps of whatever it was they were doing. Her mother was boredly finishing off a plate of fish and chips from her resturaunt and Mother Gothel and her daughter were simultaneously admiring themselves in grimy mirrors. The rest of the left side was crowded by the mothers without kids around like Queen Grimhilde, Queen Nerissa, Maleficent, Queen La, and Morgain Le Fey with Circe and Calix rounding out the end, not speaking to each other.

She had heard the loud fights between them in the parlor next door to her room. The unofficial area to air out secret plans and have family fights. From what she could hear through the walls, Calix was still an Auradonian good guy through and through and trying to convince his mom to leave the Coven and help them fight when the time came while his mom was all onboard the revenge train and didn’t trust the Auradons after they sent her to the Isle and tore her away from her home.

It was very very interesting. Almost as good as the soaps Jade sometimes caught when she--

“Have you’ve mastered levitation yet?” Her mom’s reedy voice cut through her thoughts.

“Um I was..” Jade took a small breath in and smiled sweetly to her mother who scowled, “I was getting a nice foot massage from my new slaveboy. It’s important to use our enemies and degrade them.”

Nasira rolled her eyes, angrily huffing through her nose. Jade instinctively leaned away from her when she saw that. It never ended well for her face.

Shockingly, the person she least expected to be thankful for came barging through the doors, red with rage.

“Who the hell stole my genie!” He bellowed, his black robe billowing around him and dark hair dishelved and plastered against his forehead in a rare image of him at his least presentable.

“Zevon did it.” Uma said cocking her head toward the oily wannabe emperor who was sinking down in his seat.

“Why would yaaargh? She’s mine!” Antiqam lunged at Zevon who fruitlessly tried to squirm under the table but Antiqam was faster. He pounced on the teen like a coyote, twisting Zevon’s high collar around his neck causing blue veins to bulge around his forehead to match the angry red one throbbing at Antiqam’s temple.

This was one example where Antiqam strayed from being exactly like his father. Antiqam was cool and calm, scarily collected most of the time with all his ‘I”s dotted and “T”s crossed. But when his plan was derailed, that all snapped.

Jade looked out of the corner of her eye to see how her relatives were acting to this, all expressing various levels of exasperation as Antiqam thrashed Zevon around on the table.

Uncle Jafar was looking gloatingly at her mother as if to say, “So that’s how you grandparent?” and Mozonroth was facepalming, vexed at his son’s unchecked anger and violence.

Even the “accomplished and perfect” Antiqam disappointed his father by not keeping control of his emotions. How satisfying.

Jade personally thought it made sense. Antiqam acted so calm and suave all the time, and repressed all his emotions like annoyance and anger. So when he reached the breaking point, he became a incoherent rage, letting it all out on the poor fool.

Similarly, Zevon had no parental support on his side as Yzma rubbed her temples, “I’m so disappointed in you.”

“Antiqam. Tawaquf.” Mozonroth punctuated his commands with two sharp raps on the table with his armored gauntlet, grabbing his son’s attention who promptly dropped a bedraggled Zevon to the floor.

Antiqam didn’t say anything. He just inhaled deeply and brushed some invisible dust off his shoulders as if that would draw attention away from his outburst that left a bruised Zevon who was on the floor groaning and grappling to get back on his chair.

“He shouldn’t have stolen my lamp. What did he want it for?” Antiqam hissed through his teeth, his anger still audible but starting to retreat under his usual self possessed attitude.

“What you wanted it for. Genie sex.” Calix answered with obvious disdain, earning him a glare from Zevon across the table for ratting him out.

“How do you know all this?” Antiqam turned to look suspiciously at him.

“We caught him.” Uma said, referring to herself and Calix.

“Then give i the lamp to us.” Mozonroth’s dark eyes seared across the table belied by his strained smile that revealed he was refraining from bashing someone’s head himself.

Antiqam cocked his head, a cat-eating-the-canary-smile playing about his lips, “Wait, aren’t you friends with my genie? Circe said she knew their family back in Auradon? Have you’ve been hiding her from me? Protecting her?”

Jade flinched. She knew the punishment that would ensue if they were found protecting someone.

“Even after you two said you’d join and obey the Coven?” Queen Nerissa finished the train of thought that was forming in everyone’s heads.

No, no no, no. This was bad. Very bad. Why did Uma and Calix say they’d infiltrate from the inside? If either of them stepped a teeny bit out of line, they’d be done for. No one here would trust a former Auradonian or the sea witch that left the Isle for months. They were viewed too much as invaders. They had something to gain if the Coven failed.

But she… people thought she’d have everything to lose if the Coven failed and that was why Yzla chose her as the perfect double agent.

Time to prove to Uma that her breezy attitude was nothing to roll her eyes at.

The adults’ voices were beginning to raise in anger and confusion with Circe’s cutting through the noise with the fierce proclamation,

“Don’t you dare accuse my son of anything. He is a loyal person unlike you backstabbers.” Circe hissed.

Hmmm maybe there was hope for getting the Grecian sorceress on their side. Hope enough that even if she didn’t actively help them, there’d be hell to pay if someone hurt her son.

“Oh, Queen Nerissa, you must be really insecure about your intimidation if you think two former goody goodiness would disobey you.” Jade laughed, jumping up to wrap her arms around Uma, “They’ve been far too busy the pleasures of being in the Coven to even think of ever going back to such sacherrine goodness. After all, they don’t have me in Auradon.”

To make her point, she kissed Uma’s neck and was promptly pushed away with a hiss, “Don’t touch me!”

Ursula looked disbelievingly at Jade, and Jade shrugged, “Yeah, it only happened once. Can’t say Uma really knows what she’s doing in the bedroom. Too uptight.”

Uma clenched her fists, mouthing some obscene threat but Jade rolled her eyes at her. Ha!

“As for this guy,” Jade walked over to Calix and planted a deep kiss on him, relishing in the surge of performance as everyone watched their tongues tangle, completely oblivious to her fingers wrapping around the lamp that Calix had been holding under the table.

She pulled away from Calix, smiling at the slightly punched drunk gaze she left him with. Slipping the lamp into her long sleeves that almost fell to the floor.

When she returned to her seat, her mother was the one facepalming while Uncle Jafar looked surprisingly impressed at her manipulative seduction abilities. Uncle Jafar always prided manipulativeness while her mom didn’t.

Her mom preferred more direct action and said that her brother had his priorities messed up if he did everything manipulatively. Maybe if he was more direct, he would have made sure to kill Aladdin so that street rat wouldn’t have defeated him in the end.

She turned to Antiqam holding the lamp to his face, “You’re being overdramatic for no reason. I have the lamp, dear nephew.”

“Why didn’t you return it to me once you caught Zevon, dear aunt?” Antiqam asked tersely.

“Because I wanted wishes.” Jade smiled, inspecting the pretty brass object for the first time, tracing her figures across the curling cuticles.

It was so ordinary. Brass was one of the easiest metals to find on the Isle. And lamps like these were utterly useless to beat back the cold, windy winters on the Isle. She’d thought if a genie had a lamp it would be something sparkly and shimmering with a thousand encrusted jewels or sparking off like a firework just like the genies were themselves.

But it also fit. Jade mused to herself. Something so unsuspecting and ordinary could change her life.

“Jade, I know listening isn’t your forte, but we went over the plan. When we take over Agrabah, we’ll each have a genie. Jafar will have the male, your mother will have Eden and we’ll have this one.” Mozonroth explained slowly, smiling at her as if she was a child.

“I did listen. But I wanted wishes now. And unlike Zevon, I am actually thinking out what my wishes will be and not going to get tricked out of my genie.” Jade said, “I have plans of my own.”

Her mother looked up at her curiously, a strange smile spreading across her face.

Pride.

A proud smile. Her mom had a proud smile for her!?

Jade couldn’t stop the hopeful lurch of her heart at the sight. She never thought she was capable of making her mom proud of her.

After all her heists, the wrestling matches she won, this was what made her mom proud? Stealing genie lamp from her grandson?

….Or was it the “I have plans of my own.”

How many times had she heard her Mom lecture that she should have plans of her own.

Her mom was sure proud of her. For echoing her. Not for Jade’s own actions.

“Jade should have the wishes.” Her mom said, interrupting whatever retort that was about to come out of Mozonroth’s mouth. “What?!” Jafar, Mozonroth and Antiqam stared at her mother, the rest of the Coven sporting similar shocked looks at the small family drama unfolding.

“She’s already been using Aladdin’s son as her slave boy. I’m sure she’ll think of something equally degrading for the genie when she makes her three wishes.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Jade clenched her jaw tightly to prevent any traitorous sound of glee from coming out of her throat.

She didn’t care. She didn’t care. She didn’t care. She had to keep reminding herself that. She was not about to do things for her mom’s approval. And if she accidentally recieved her mom’s approval she shouldn’t be happy about it. It was like fool’s gold Shiny and wonderful but temporary. It would not last or provide any substance later on.

“Well then, I’ll go spend my wishes now!” Jade said brightly, deciding to add to her mother’s newfound pride, “And I’ll go study magic now too.”

Hey, might as well keep her mom off her back for the rest of the day.

“Wait, we’re making plans!” Queen Nerissa called out, “This is a Coven meeting not an episode of As the Crown Turns.”

“Oh I love that show! Did you see the latest one where the mermaid found out her husband slept with her twin sister?” Gothel cried.

“I saw that coming from a mile away.” Queen Grimhilde hooted, “Why wouldn’t he. I mean the girl’s a fish. At least her twin had legs to-”

“Ladies.” Queen Nerissa shouted, until there was calm once more. “I’ll get this over quickly since some people claim they have “better things to do.”

The plan will commence on next Sunday at the height of summer solstice. We must start our preparations on Monday and work throughout the week. That means no one is leaving the castle or exiting,” she made a significant side-eye to Uma and Calix. “All magic user must rest and save their strength for the takeover. Remember we strike to kill. No more of this “make them suffer first” nonsense. That allows them time to think and take over and that’s how you all failed the first time. Think on that. That’s all. You’re dismissed.”

Jade jumped up and ran to the door where Uma and Calix quickly met her. “Give me.” Calix grabbed the lamp possessively and Uma pushed her back, “What the hell was that out there?”

“One, I can’t give this to you. It’s called committing to the lie. And two, it’s called kiss. You clearly haven’t had much experience with that, Shrimpy.” Jade shot back.

They didn’t have much time to talk more since Circe and Ursula swept by, taking their kids with them.

“Congratulations.” Celia grabbed Jade’s arm and gently shook it.

Jade felt herself melt a little seeing Celia’s sincere congratulations and genuine smile.

It was a stupid, sentimental feeling but she preferred kids to people her own age. She didn’t have to act cool. She was older, she was automatically cool. So that was one less stress on her life.

Kids were the opposite of everything she prided herself for. They didn’t know how to hide their emotions that well. They didn’t feel the need to act cool and were very eager to praise others when someone did something cool. They couldn’t lie very well which was annoying when she was among her peers but when kids did it, it was adorable.

And Celia was a pretty cool kid if she had to call a kid cool. She was feisty, sassy, and was always quick with a scam. If there was one thing that bought her respect was someone who knew how to make a quick buck.

Also since she joined the Anti Hero Club, her respect for Celia had elevated a bit. Not only could she con people out of their money, but underneath the Facilier smoothness was loyalty.

She knew she should have expected it since it was a club for secretly heroic kids despite the confusing name but to see it in action brought an unfamiliar yet comforting feeling to see people that were capable of trustworthiness and loyalty and that if succeeded, she could meet other like-minded people. Instead of being constantly on guard and acting casual among villains who’d be willing to stab her in an instant to rot when all she wanted to do was be alone and safe.

Yzla informed her it was called hope. She was pretty sure that was also a good guy thing. Another strike against her if her mother ever found out she was capable of feeling such goodness.

“Thanks. Bye!” Jade waved as Dr. Facilier grabbed Celia’s hand to take her back to their shop.

Jade headed toward the stairs where the dungeons were, watching as the rest of the family headed up to the rooms.

“Jay follow me!” She clapped to get hypno-Jay’s attention and wiggled her fingers at Antiqam’s scowl. If she hadn’t been on Antiqam’s radar before she knew she was on it now. Hell, she may have made his hit list by getting to use the wishes before he did.

But she repressed those concerns to the back of her mind. She’ll deal with it later when the time came. Hopefully never.

She reached the dungeon floor, it’s dank smell of blood, and seared flesh filling her nostrils as she entered the hallway. The only open door was at the end of the hall, the one leading to the torture room and she could already hear the faint gurgling sound of someone choking.

She winced and moved quickly through the hall, opening each door as she went.

Each Coven got their own magic workshop, each styled for their specific magic and decorated so people wouldn’t get confused since all the doors looked the same.

She checked each room, opening it fully to the one that smelled of blood lilies and the walls were dusted with sand from her attempts at levitating.

Jade stared at the book that was still left open on the table and sat her chair. Jay standing at the door staring blankly at her.

“To levitate an object, one must “flap and clap” your arms focusing on your third chakra. Fire is needed blah blah blah.” Jade read outloud and shut the book in disgust. She read those words like thirty times this morning, she practically memorized it but that didn’t help her in actually doing the magic.

The closest she’d come to levitating the sand was by throwing it against the wall in frustration, and then her mom checked on her and..

Jade slumped in her seat and tried to get herself to focus on the book again. She had to learn something. She had to show her mom she could do something or else.

A wave of phantom pain washed over her as she thought what would happen if her mom decided to stop by to observe her progress.

The beginnings of a migraine were pounding in her temples as her mom’s distinct hiss bounced around her head. “You can’t do anything? Nothing! What is wrong with you, Jade? No, don’t answer that. I know exactly what is wrong with you.”

Jade instinctively flinched, feeling the invisible blows her mom pounded on her.

“You have no discipline! No ambition! You’re acting like a slut with no wants in life! You are a waste of space! Nothing is in your head! I should have left you to die in the desert like I did after I had Mozonroth! He made something of himself. Here, I am telling you to do better and you do nothing!”

She had managed to speak a little. That she was a good thief. More like a whisper, but her mom with her cold calculating senses picked up on everything, “A thief? That’s what you want to aspire to? You’re descended from sorcerers and you want to be a fucking thief! You’re disgrace!”

Her voice raised and lowered in random intervals, as if Nasira couldn’t think of whether to laugh at such foolish, unambitious dreams or be even more enraged. She chose the latter, Jade remembered. She had the marks to prove it though she didn’t remember much. It went by in a haze, her mom’s face contorted monstrously as she yelled. The persistent, never ending hits to the stomach and face.

She could feel a heavy weight press down against her just like when her mom leaned over her. Pressing all her weight and bony knees into her chest that Jade was sure she was going to puncture it. Her spindly fingers clawing into Jade’s mouth, drawing blood on her tongue to stop her “ear bleeding screeches.” Those screams were just the sort of thing that showed people how weak she was. She needed to toughen up.

Jade cursed herself internally. She knew this lesson already. Just act happy, just act casual, act nonchalant, act angry. Her casual attitude may irritate her mother but she would usually leave her alone. It was when she acted sad or scared her mother would get vicious. When she sensed weakness, she attacked.

Her throat closed and her thoughts jumbled into one overarching message, “She was a failure and her mother was going to kill her for it. She was a failure and her mom was going to kill her. ShewasafailureMomwasgoingtokillherShewasafailureMomwasgoingto killher.FailureDeadDeadFailureShewasgoingtodie.Uselesswasteofspace.

Jade experienced these sorts of panic attacks before. She needed some water for her throat. Her lungs were heaving with sobs and air that fought to win over her tired body. Her hot tears streaked down her face and the overwhelming pain, sadness and hopelessness within that threatened to engulf her. She needed to get out of this room with its levitating spells and reminders of her mother.

“Hi Auntie Jade!” A cheerful voice giggled and Jade slowly turned her head to see the chubby small form of her little nephew, Malik. “Antiqam wanted me to check up on you.” Despite the swirling thoughts in her head and the overwhelming waves of panic, some seperate part of her melted at Malik’s complete inability to lie and that, out of all people, Antiqam chose to send his 5 year old brother to spy on her despite the kid being incapable of spying or understanding the bigger chess game they were playing.

The kid was too young to do subterfuge and even if he did, he was too sweet. He wasn’t corrupted yet to hate her.

“I’m great,” Jade gulped past the lump in her throat, lurching unsteadily to the door, “I need the bathroom.”

The migraine made the rest of her body feel heavy and unsteady when she walked to the bathroom in the middle of the right side of the hall. Once she approached the bathroom she threw up into the sink.

It disgusted her. Not so much the contents of her stomach but the fact that she did it. Just thinking about her mother's abuse and this is what she was reduced to? Throwing up in fear of what the witch would do to her.

She knew she could handle it. It was practically predictable at this point. Curl in a ball as she hit and kicked and scratched, hide in her room, do makeup, act like nothing happened until the next time she did something wrong. Even now she felt ashamed that that was her strategy in dealing with her mom. She could grapple with the Gaston twins with no fear, but with her mom, she just froze up. She had survived the pain of living with her mother for years, why was she so scared now?

Maybe it was like Antiqam's rage? She’d been repressing it so long, all the anxiety and fear was hitting her now.

Whatever it was, she didn’t need it at this moment. She had important things to do for the Anti Villain Club. She couldn’t fall apart now.

Jade trembled against the cold tiles of her bathroom and clenched her fists in an effort to still her quaking body. Her breath was coming in short desperate pants and it took all of her willpower to remember to focus on her face in the mirror, watching herself as her breath became slower and slower.

She blinked rapidly to try to clear her eyes of the tears that were still threatening to fall and scrubbed at her face with some of the brown water that came out of the rusty faucet. Even though the Coven had their powers, and were able to create jewels, transformations and shadow spirits out of thin air they still weren’t able to magick up some way to get better pipes for fresh water. They would get those sort of things when they went to Auradon.

Jade patted her cheeks, making sure the blush wasn’t rubbing off and noticed with distaste the smudgeness of her mascara dripping down her cheeks.

Then Lala walked out of the other stall, her ever-present leopard staff under her arm as she washed her hands, and Jade froze.

Quickly splashing water over her face, she rubbed the remnents of her makeup off and reached into the small pocket she had sewn into the underside of her sleeve for emergency makeup supplies.

She sniffed and forced herself to smile. That’s what people expected of her. She was the flirty thief with no care in the world.

Maybe it was time to work on Operation: Future Friendship with Jungle Girl, part 22. Concentrating on other things usually helped her to not dwell on the memories.

Jade was used to getting what she wanted. Whether it was a one night stand or Queen Grimhilde’s youth moisturizing cream. She was going to get this girl to warm up to her if it was the last thing she did.

She couldn’t believe she was trying so hard to do this. A mere 3 months ago, she would have laughed at such an idea of working to be friends with someone on the Isle when they were bound to betrayal.

But three months ago she wasn’t part of the Anti Heroes Club, working to undermine the Coven and her mother from inside.

It all began when Yzla invited her to the Anti Heroes Club, and they'd gotten closer to the hope that they’d get off this forsaken place that she started considering the idea of a real friendship.

Yzla introduced the concept to her first. She had been practically salivating over the idea of unlimited fresh food when she said, “Imagine. We could actually act like friends instead of claiming we’re just an alliance.”

Jade was taken aback by Yzla’s outspoken proclamation and admittance that she wanted to say she was Jade’s friend, one simply did not say they were friends after all it was a mushy princessy feeling, but then again, Yzla was more progressive than other Isle kids, being a budding scientist and researching all those newfangled theories.

Jade hadn’t been sure how to respond. Sure at the moment she smiled and agreed, keeping up the friendly facade she usually kept among people, but she still had to think about it. And when she did, she realized Yzla was her friend.

With Yzla, she didn’t feel the need to act like the edgy yet friendly dreamgirl she was with everyone. She was just comfortable with Yzla, she wanted to hang out with her just to talk or rough up some pirates on the docks. Hell, that’s why she joined up on this mysterious club so quickly. If Yzla said it was legit, it was legit.

Beyond their first meeting, Jade hadn’t hung out with her with the intent to steal. She had been careful never to express any personal, emotional topics, they always edged around the “too real” conversations but she had come close a few times. Almost admitting that she wanted to stay at Yzma’s house so as not to go home and face her mom who may or may not be in a bad mood.

But if they were friends…. if all the Isle rules about being tough and no honor among thieves was gone… then she’d tell Yzla in a heartbeat. And she’d want to hear hers about Yzma’s insanity and Zevon’s bullying in all its gory details.

She felt safe with Yzla. They mocked each other at times but ultimately, they had each other’s back. That was a rare thing to feel but if that’s what friendship brought to her life, she wanted more of it.

She supposed she could count herself friends with Gil LeGume too. She also enjoyed hanging out with him, and she knew he would never hurt her on purpose. But he was loyal to Uma’s side. Which she could respect. But she had no idea why he’d want to voluntarily hang out with such a bossy sea witch.

Although she was still a bit insulted by his suggestion that she join their crew for protection. Protection! As if she’d go crawling to them for help like she couldn’t handle her mom on her own.

Well she couldn’t handle her mom to be honest, but others didn’t need to help her either. She had been just fine surviving alone all her life.

So though she wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea of joining a crew or gang, yet from the few friendships she had seen, it didn’t make the people in it look as weak and manipulatable as her mom claimed.

Uma’s Crew for example.They were so in sync they were unstoppable. And it was Jay’s bond with his three friends that allowed them to stay in Auradon and defeat Maleficent. And she might as well start planting the seeds now and get one jump ahead.

So that’s why she approached Lala and tried to talk to her, she figured having a trained warrior would be a great asset in her future friend gang. Especially if she hadn’t really fought anyone else on the Isle so people wouldn’t be familiar with countering her moves. But it turned out Team Genie or Uma or whoever the leader was already got her on their side before she defected out of fear of her mother.

Jade wished she couldn’t relate.

She wanted to get Lala back on their side, and actually join the fight. She had a feeling they would need the experience fighting skill. And if she ended up getting a genuine connection out of it. Bonus for her.

However, her usual tactics to chat Lala up hadn’t been working. Even though no one trusted anyone here, most people were easy targets to her charm.

A bit of flattery, admiration, acting like she wanted to be friends with benefits with all the trust and intimacy and Auradon-like crap. But none of that was working. Lala was too reserved and solitary. She didn’t get any of her sarcastic jokes and when she did it was a light laugh like she was about to cough.

Jade supposed being raised in a jungle probably accounted for the poor socialization still…..

How can this girl not fall victim to her and her flirty, friendly girl talk? She was everyone’s type!

She thought she got the jungle girl to warm up to her a little when she suggested Aziz become Jade’s slave boy. It had been clear when they saw Aziz in the dungeon that Lala wanted to help him out of there but didn’t know how. After all, why would the daughter of Queen La care anything about the son of Aladdin whether he lived or died.

However, it made perfect sense for Jade to want the son of her family’s enemy to suffer. That’s why she suggested they let him live to serve as her slave. Uncle Jafar had been all in for the plan and even her mom grudgingly approved of her idea to degrade his morale.

That’s why Yzla dubbed her the unofficial queen deception. Make it to look like she was satisfying her family legacy of evil while secretly protecting Aziz. Albeit with a few perks like the free massages and feeding her grapes. To make the lie convincing, of course.

Lala looked briefly, dare she say grateful, but although Lala hung out with her and Aziz more, she still maintained an impersonal distance that Jade couldn’t crack. She’d react to Jade’s conversation but she would with monosyllables. As if conversing with Jade was beneath her.

Jade managed a friendly albeit watery smile which Lala responded,

“A break?”

“Nope, meeting’s over. I'm taking a break from magic to redo my mascara. Want some? It would really go a long way to lengthening your eyelashes.”

“Hmmph” Lala sniffed, the highest indicator of someone about to make a bitchy comment, “You should go back to working on your magic. Makeup is a useless vanity. Trying to cover up the fact that you weren’t born pretty. They’re more important things like survival and fighting skills. Makeup doesn’t help anyone.”

Jade inhaled. That was the thing everyone thought.

That makeup was a silly girly thing for beauty-obsessed women like Mother Gothel and the Evil Queen. That on the Isle, she should be focusing on more important things. That liking makeup made her a weak girly princess as if her gender and her less muscular physique wasn’t enough to count against her.

Her mother’s voice echoing in her head that all that makeup made her a slut. A slut who wasn’t even being useful or smart to use her sluttiness to steal from people. She was acting like some sidekick or a future harem girl with no ambitions.

Jade clenched her teeth, her mother’s words fueling anger instead of fear in this instance. Jade told herself over and over that her mother wasn’t right about that. Just because she didn’t share her ambitions, didn’t mean she was devoid of any brains or wants.

And everyone else was wrong too! They thought makeup defined her. Confirmed what they already thought. She was a silly girl, waltzing through life, occasionally pickpocketing. Not a serious person. Not a serious threat. That’s what they think makeup said about her. But they had no fucking clue what was underneath the makeup.

They didn’t see how most of her personality was just an act so she could steal from them. They didn’t see how good of a thief she was. Jay got all the glory for that. Even though he was gone, people still thought he was the King of Isle Thieves even though she was right there!

She could fight as well as Jay too. The years of taking Nasira’s abuse made her faster and more nimble in getting up again while others laid groaning and nursing their wounds.

While Mozonroth and Antiqam and the rest of her family used fear to make people give their money, she worked in subtleties. Acting like a cool friend, and being able to seek out others weaknesses for later blackmail purposes. She made people like her so when she stole from them, they were less likely to go after her in revenge. How was that for intelligence?

And makeup was a part of that. It didn’t make her vain and frivolous. It made her fit the part of a beautiful, charming thief. It helped her survive the Isle.

“Makeup is not only about vanity! Makeup is as much a survival technique as punching someone’s nose. The right shade of lipstick can make you a ravishing seductress or.. or a monster. Makeup makes you invincible.”

Lala snorted but Jade interrupted her before she could speak, her teeth clenched tight to keep herself from the loud volume she wanted to emit. The loudness that she wanted to shout so people would stop underestimating her and her subtle lies.

Subtly that allowed her to survive this long.

Everything went slower. She slitted her eyes like she’d often seen her mom do before attacking. She took in every inch of Lala’s body,, searching for the one thing she could use to make her point and bring the jungle down a peg.

Her face looked fine. Slightly flushed. The rest of her body was also fine she supposed. Jade wasn’t sure since it was all covered with clothes so….

That was it.

“It does make you invincible. Makeup covers all your imperfections and bruises.”

Time for the final blow. She was going to make that girl pay for thinking she was better. She was as weak as the rest of them under the thumb of their parents.

“You look as if no one has ever beaten you in a fight.”

Lala didn’t talk much, she was all action. And what Jade observed of her action was that ever since Lala got a supply of non-animal skin clothes, her clothes covered everything. And she’d stand in front of the mirror making sure it did.

Jade knew that action well.

How many times had she stood in front of the mirror, looking from every angle to make sure her bruises didn’t reveal how weak she was under her mother? That her makeup didn’t let the abuse show?

She could bet that Lala was trying to cover up the same thing despite her superior than thou attitude towards makeup.

“So yeah, makeup is important. And…” Jade made a point of knowingly looking Lala up and down, “You look like you need it.”

It was almost comical to see how Lala froze up in front of her, her brown cat eyes wide with shock that Jade figured it out. Followed by a quick offensive.

“How DARE you!” Lala growled, “I am Que- I mean, Princes- no. I-I’m Ranavalalona! Heir ugh warrior of-“

Crap crap crap! Jade could tell by the tense way Lala clutched her staff that she was about to engage in a major street brawl and this bathroom was too tiny for it to be a fair fight for her.

All the anger she had been building up dissipated in an instant. Time to backtrack to friendly mode!

”Okay calm down,” Jade lamely grabbed her mascara wand and held it in front of her and oddly enough, the small item made her feel safer. She could manipulate the situation. This is what she did, and maybe if she played it right, she could turn Lala into a genuine friend for later purposes.

“Calm down and cut the bullshit.”

The move was a risk but she knew she made the right one when Lala’s grip lessened. Her gut was right. Lala responded to no-nonsense than friendliness.

“Stop the whole “How dare you inferior peasant” act. I know that’s how our parents act but we’ve seen where that got them. Auradonian heroes and us, their kids are rebelling against them. Besides, we can try to act like our mothers all we want but that’s not going to make them any more proud of us or magically decide that we’re worthy heirs. I know how you feel. That it’d be easier to give in and hope that we’ll become their favorites. But it’s never going to happen whether we obey them or not.”

Lala didn’t respond, but she did lower her staff, and she wasn’t breaking eye contact. Jade could practically hear the unsaid dare.

“Prove it. How do you know how I feel?” ��

So Jade said what she had wanted to tell Yzla, what she never admitted out loud. That she hated being “toughen” up and that even though she didn’t want to follow her mom’s legacy, she hated being the unfavorite. And maybe, just maybe Lala would agree and sympathize.

“My mom wants me to be a sorceress but I suck at it. I can’t even do a “simple” levitating spell. At least Uncle Jafar is proud that Jay is a thief and doesn’t have all these unrealistic expectations for him to become a genie or something.

I’m an even better thief than Jay and no one is proud of me for that. People don’t even realize it! That’s how good I am. People still don’t know their stuff is gone!

But noooo. Mom’s favorite is still Mozonroth because he has magic, he conquered the land of the Black Sand, he accomplished things. That’s not even an accomplishment! No one was living there. He didn’t conquer anything, he basically saw a bunch of sand and put a palace on top of it.” Jade ranted, relishing the chance to criticize her mother’s unspoken favorite since even when Nasira was putting her down, she still wouldn’t declare that she loved anyone. Even her children.

“So yeah, I could try to put effort in doing what my mom wants. But it’s not worth it. She’s done nothing for me and she never will. She wants me to survive life on my own and conquer others, and that’s exactly what I’m doing by taking her down.”

Lala didn’t say anything, she opened her mouth, closed it and then pushed past her to the door.

Jade felt a sinking feeling. Allah, she rambled on for nothing. Now Lala probably thought she was such a weak, needy person who complains about her abuse and..

“Can you find makeup for me?”

Jade whipped her head around to see Lala looking at the floor, but she understood the deeper meaning in the question.

“Yes! Totally!” Ugh need to dial back the enthusiasm, she may have spilled her feelings but she still had a reputation, “I’ll find something when I have time.”

Lala nodded, a little less curt this time and swept into the hallway where Aziz was patiently waiting for her to leave the bathroom.

Jade was so enthused by this new potential ally-ship she decided to neglect her mascara for once and get back to her workspace where Malik was tugging at hypno-Jay’s arm, chattering on excitedly.

“Malik, alhabiba, he can't really talk now.” Jade pulled him away.

“Why not? Why is he frozen?” Malik asked

“Uncle Jafar hypnotized him.” Jade answered.

“Why?”

Jade knew she could go the honest route and explain how awful Uncle Jafar was and how he just wanted to control people. But she knew it wouldn’t go over well for them to find out she was trying to turn Malik against them. “Well, you know how your dad always says to respect your elders. Jay wasn’t doing that so Uncle Jafar decided to make him.”

“Oh okay,” Malik easily accepted the answer, his eager amber eyes already scoping out something more interesting to catch his attention. And his eyes landed on the lamp.

She knew what he was thinking. No doubt his older brother had explained to Malik the power of genies and everything wanted to ask for his wishes.

Though she doubted Malik had started his malicious streak yet. She heard Mozonroth had started grooming Antiqam when he was around 7 so Malik was a pretty innocent kid for now.

Nonetheless, she didn’t want to call the genie out of her lamp for personal wishes. From her weekly Anti Villain lessons conducted by Yen Sid, it was not good to force people follow your command without asking if they wanted to. Which Jade personally didn’t think it made sense in the case of genies. Wasn’t that what they were for?

But Jade was trying to follow the good path and so she wasn’t going to use the wishes for her personal gain, and she wouldn’t allow Malik to do so either.

Though it was tempting. Jade stared at the gleaming brass. So tempting. One rub, one wish and she could be the sorceress her mom always wanted her to be, maybe be even better than, exceed her in power and prestige and pummel her into the ground for once.

But she knew that they could go wrong too. She heard the stories. Aladdin tricked Uncle Jafar to become a genie confined to his lamp. Abis Mal complained that his genie tricked him out of his victory over Aladdin. Zevon being tricked by Jordan via “genie sex” whatever that meant.

Yeah, maybe she shouldn’t touch that lamp.

“Malik, go play with the book. Maybe you can do magic.” Jade suggested, handing him the leathery tome.

“Like Daddy?” Malik asked gleefully.

“Yep, just like your dad.” Jade smiled as Malik eagerly dragged the heavy book across the floor, making blasting sounds as he did, “Woosh bam bam! Pshaww!”

The lamp caught her eye again as the shine glinted off her jade necklace. She shouldn’t touch it but she still wondered.

What would she do if she had three wishes right now?

Jade leaned back to fully admire the lamp and bumped into the motionless Jay.

Jade sighed. Poor Jay. This unmoving hypnotized Jay may have his face but none of his spirit. The real Jay would never stay still this long nor go without inserting his opinion or boast. If he was there right now, he’d waste no time and impulsively rub that lamp.

She turned to fully face Jay and unknot the crisp and perfectly neat manbun from his head. There, his fly-away raven hair was much better. Wild and free like he was.

Even though she and Jay weren’t close like people expected them to be, what with being cousins and making a killer thief duo, she still felt like they were unconsciously close. They had the sqame background, a similar lifestyle, same interests and attitude towards life. She’d hate to be hypnotized against her will just because her mother didn’t like what she was doing with her life and she’d like to think Jay would try to stop it from happening.

And maybe if they had been from Auradon, or if they had had different parents, they’d be a lot closer like she’d seen on tv of Queen Ariel’s sisters all hugging each other.

She remembered the day they grew apart. Unwillingly but they had obeyed their parents and stopped treating each other as close relatives. Barely acting like a friend.

She had been 6. Jay 7. Uncle Jafar had come to visit their tiny shack shuffled up against the block dubbed Hun-Town, since that's where Shan Yu and his armies’ families settled. It had been fun, Jade remembered. Things were usually fun when Jay visited. Their parents were all too eager to not be bothered with them as they bemoaned their forgotten glory days while she and Jay ran around, leaping over fallen bricks and assorted piles of trash and jumping off of roots in early attempts to parkour.

They had run into the living room, at least they called it a living room. It was just half a room with a sheet in the middle to separate it from the kitchen. The only thing that made it a living room was a sagging bean bag chair where everyday some new mutated bug would come crawling out of it.

Jay and her had been play-wrestling. They had gone through 4 rounds at least. He had won 2 and she’d won 2 and they were trying to break the tie.

Jay had her in a headlock, choking off her air and she couldn’t break free no matter how much she shoved and punched at his ribs.

“Mercy.” she cried as per agreed stop word. “Mercy!” She pleaded too loud that time.

Jay loosen his grip slightly giving Jade time to resume her attack again. She punched and prodded at his sides, surprised and delighted when he let out a snort.

“You’re ticklish?” She yelled.

“No-no I’m not! That’s not-That’s against the rules!” Jay laughed trying to push her away while simultaneously getting back at her.

“Tap tap”

They were so caught up in their play fight they didn’t hear the sound of her mother’s approach until

“What are you doing?”

They looked up innocently at her mother whose fierce scowl made her look like one of those broken gargoyles that Claude Frollo used to decorate his home.

Before either could answer, Nasira took a step toward Jade and Jade instinctively scooted backwards.

“Did I hear you ask for mercy? Is that what you do in a fight, give up and hope your opponent will accept your plea for mercy?”

“We were just playing.” Jay’s sole voice piped up but he was young and small and faded in the background compared to her mother’s angry presence that was cornering her against the wall.

The corner of the wall that was becoming oh-so familiar already at the age of 6.

“And what was that tickling and laughter about? I expect you to be better, Jade! If you’re going to play-fight, you need to act like it is a fight to the death. Why did you ask for mercy? Because you were acting like it was a game or you knew you are too weak to win?”

Jade didn’t look at her. She wanted to be invisible.

“Answer me!”

Jade pressed herself against the wallpaper, hoping against hope that this would be the time she would finally blend into it or at least her mother wouldn’t bother snatching her from her corner so she could beat her on the open floor.

She could hear the frustrated snorts as her mother inhaled and exhaled angrily, she could sense her mother’s shadow looming above her but she couldn’t bear to turn her face away from the wall.

There was a pause and a suffocating silence as her mom looked down on her.

Jade’s insides trembled though she kept the rest of her body as still as a rock. She bit her lip, feeling the drip drip of blood down her chin but she wouldn’t make a sound. She couldn’t do anything. She couldn’t. The moment she whimpered or twitched, her mom would strike.

But she was a child and she couldn’t keep still forever.

She didn’t know what she did. Was it an exhale that had signaled her mom to attack. Had her mother noticed her fingers scrambling against the wallpaper? Maybe for once, her mom hadn’t waited for a sign of movement or weakness but simply chose that moment to begin her blitz.

She dragged her by the ankle to the middle of the living room as Jade screamed in a mixture of pain from the rough wool and splinters on the floor and fear for what was to come.

The worst part was how silent her mother was. The only sounds were Jade’s screams which honestly scared her even more because she knew she was the only one who seemed to hear them. That no one was going to help her escape this.

“Look at me.” Her mother hissed. The second most horrible sound next to the silence. Her mother didn’t say words, she hissed them, her teeth constantly clenched together with a little air seeping through. “SS ss ss.”

Jade meekly curled into a ball on her back, her knees up to cover her stomach and covering her eyes with her hands but not enough so she could peek through her fingers at the horrifying sight of her mother’s eyes wild with rage and the rotten wood of her mother’s crude replacement staff poised to bring down blows.

She tensed waiting for the familiar but insufferable pain. Instead she felt something warm, and soft and slightly leather pulling her close like in a hug? She opened her eyes, it wasn't something but someone!

Jay jumped in front of her just as her mother was about to give a blow on her head. Her staff came inches from smashing Jay’s face when she reeled back in horror.

“Are you protecting her?” She screeched.

Before Jay could reply, Nasira stalked off to yell into the kitchen, “JAFAR!”

Jafar came pushed past the sheet, crumbs from the meal of molty apples and spoiled honey staining his pajamas and mixed with his small beard and Iago pecking at his fingers for a bite.

“Look at this! How have you’ve been raising your child? He’s protecting her!”

“Jayal iban Jafar!” Jafar yelled, roughly plucking Jay off of her and cuffed him about the face, “What have I’ve told you? There is no team in I. You do not help others. You don’t protect.”

“But she’s my cous-” “That does not matter. You can ally with each other for stealing but you should not protect each other. It will not help you in the long run. What if one of you gets captured? Are you going to stay behind to help and go to jail too? Ridiculous! Boy, you only got to look out for number one.” Jafar explained with Iago yelling “Yeah!” for emphasis after each sentence.

“Sorry, Aunt Nasira.” Jay mumbled after Jafar’s lecture which Jafar groaned, “Don’t say “sorry,” Jayal!”

“Just take him away.” Aunt Nasira scowled in disgust and glared at Jade, “I hope you listened carefully to that, daughter. That this was a lesson for her to take to heart too. If I see you exhibit such selflessness…” she trailed off leaving Jade to cower and move back to her safe corner. Her mother rolled her eyes and followed her brother and Jay as they went back to the kitchen, and Jade licked her wounds in silence.

Jay looked back at her. His large child-eyes sympathetic for that brief moment they made eye contact but Jafar grabbed his ear and turned his attention away with the promise of an extra helping of food.

After that, Jafar didn’t bring Jay over anymore. Probably at the behest of her mom that they were getting too friendly.

She had forgotten about that incident. Shoved it far down the trove of her memories until she was around..hmm 15 maybe?

She had asked her mother how come Uncle Jafar and Jay didn’t come over? Did they have a fight like the De’Vil siblings?

Mom had replied that they weren’t Auradonians, family wasn’t important, they didn’t have a need to hang out with each other or protect each other.

Protect each other.. That had brought back all the memories. She nearly dropped the costume jewelry she had been holding, they came to her so fast and so vividly.

She didn’t think Jay remembered that incident either. Maybe he hadn’t been as important to him as it was to her? Maybe bigger traumas came to him after? Maybe he also repressed it?

Though she had no proof, Jade had a feeling memory repression was something a lot of kids did on the Isle. With pain coming every day in various methods and forms, it was the only way to cope, forget some of the pain instead of feeling the weight of it all.

The first time they had talked was after an Aladdin-haters club. Mom had already headed home but she stayed behind, hoping to find some good steals for dinner. Jay approached her from the backdoor and gave her a high-five.

“What’s up, Jade? Man, I haven’t seen you in forever.” “Oh you know, items to steal, people to charm, I’ve been busy.” Jade shrugged with her standard reply when meeting up with people she hadn’t seen in awhile.

“Nice. Yesterday, I stole Ursula shell necklace.” Jay bragged.

“Oh, really? For the first time? I took that ages ago.” Jade tried to puncture his pride with a little white lie but he was unruffled.

“I’m not surprised, you always go for the easy targets. I just went because it was a slow day.”

They smiled at each other, waiting for the next one-upmanship when Jay burst out laughing and Jade had to laugh too. They both knew the other was lying. It was second nature and they could either go on like this all night, coming up with more ridiculous and outlandish heists that they supposedly got away with so they decided to drop the pretenses.

“So how’s Aunt Nasira?”

“She’s..” Jade bit her lip, unsure of which of the many adjectives to describe her. Hostile? Neglectful? Annoying? Stranger that I happen to live with?

“Herself. And Uncle Jafar?” “He’s still the Prince of Pajamas.” Jay informed her, “Iago came up with that. Dad loves it.”

“I’m sure.”

“It’s too bad that he and Aunt Nasira had some sort of fight. I’m mean I know they were never close but-“

And that’s when she knew, he didn’t remember.

Sure, he would brag about how he was a lone wolf and there was no “I in team,” but it truly seemed like he didn’t remember how “no I in team” applied to them.

She laughed it off, echoing her mother’s words, “Jay, we’re not Auradonians. Family is not important.”

And so, she kept her distance from him. Yeah, she met up with him for occasional heists and on the odd birthday celebration or other, but she didn’t seek him out. She didn’t want to be too friendly.

Perhaps she was protecting him via avoidance which would be going against what their parents wanted. That they would not protect each other from harm. But she couldn’t help it.

She’d seen her cousin around the Isle with that gang he hung out with. She could tell from the slightly defensive stance and the way he positioned himself at the front of the others. Jay may like to be in the thick of the fight, but he was also protecting the others from receiving the harder blows. It was in his nature to care. Just like he was the first to come roaring with honor and pride when the Gaston twins insulted Jafar for his faltering figure. Jay cared about his family, his father included despite him not being the father of the year. He protected them from the insults of the strangers.

And if given the chance, he’d protect her from the people within their family too.

And so she had to make sure Jay never had a chance to be the protective cousin for her, it was better for him. He wouldn’t have to deal with the fury of her mom and the punches that came with it.

She experienced that enough that she didn’t wish that upon anyone. It was hers to bear alone.

Suddenly a strange tingling came over Jade. Like a hum in the air that something was about to…

“What’s happening now, guahhwhoareyou! Who are you?”

“Ahh!” Malik and Jade yelled, Jade jumping away from her thoughtful standing position to face an unfamiliar stranger in her room that was enveloped in pink smoke.

Jade coughed, flapping away some of the fumes and realized that the strange girl was the genie she had seen justly this morning. Only she looked so normal. What was it she said? Yeah, mortal form. She looked mortal like she could pass as Aziz’s sister.

His very ticked off sibling.

“Why do you have my lamp?” Jordan demanded of her.

“I- I didn’t touch your lamp I swear! I just had it for safekeeping. I’ll-I’ll explain. Malik? Did you rub it?”

“I wanted to see the genie.” Malik said, not taking his awestruck eyes away from the other girl.

Jade couldn’t blame him. She had been very intimidated by the genie girl when she first saw her this morning. In her true smoky pink genie form. She was overwhelming to fathom. The perfect hourglass figure. Looking gorgeous and magical and she was real. In a land of impossibilities and disappointments and broken dreams, a real life genie of myth and legend was standing in front of her with the ability to grant any wish she could imagine.

Jade felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff as she looked at her. Adrenaline pumping, it was thrilling, and horrifying to imagine all the ways her life could be changed with three wishes. Everything would be in reach. The impossible genie was real and nothing would be impossible for her anymore.

And like falling from a cliff, she had no idea how she’d feel when she went through with it and what would happen to her at the end.

“Hello? Anybody there?” Jordan impatiently waved her hand in front of Jade’s face.

Jade snapped out of her reverie and swatted her hand away, “Ye-Yes I’m here.”

“Is this thing with you stuttering and staring off to space going to be a regular occurrence?” Jordan crossed her arms

What was wrong with her? According to her relatives, genies were supposed to be zany and somewhat annoying with their showboat personalities? Not rude.

“No.” Jade scoffed, annoyed that she had been thrown off her composure. “I’m sorry Malik rubbed your lamp. But he’s just 5, he’s not good with rules.”

“You don’t look like a genie.” Malik blurted out, apparently ignoring the conversation that was going around him, about him.

“And he has a thing to learn about tact.” Jordan raised a sardonic eyebrow, “You’re a lot like your cousin, Jay, little one.”

“Jay’s not his cousin. Wait.. actually yes he is. Just um I think Jay’s his second cousin.” “Huh?”

“Mozonroth and I are Jay’s cousins. Malik and Antiqam are Mozonroth’s kids so they are Jay’s second cousins and my nephews.” Jade explained.

“Your family tree is very confusing.”

“Yeah I want to have a family tree done up after all this is over. My brain hurts if I think about it too much. I mean Mozonroth’s my half brother and Aladdin’s half brother but Aladdin and I aren’t related at all so that’s just weird. And-”

“Can I have my wishes now?” Malik interrupted.

Jordan pursed her lips in what Jade could tell was a suppressed smile as she bent to her knees to answer him, “Yes, alhabiba. First off, some ground rules. No wishing for more wishes. You only get three. Next, can’t kill anyone so if you’re looking to make someone croak” at this the girl transformed into a hopping pink frog croaking, “I cant do it so don’t ask.”

Jordan popped back to human form, “I can’t make people fall in love either but I don’t think we have to worry about that yet.”

“Girls have cooties,” Malik wrinkled his nose, “And they are unholy temptresses that lower weak men to the fires of hell.”

Jordan’s jaw dropped at Malik’s innocent voice proclaiming such a bold, sexist statement.

Jade hurriedly covered his mouth before he could continue repeating the things he heard at night, “He lived next door to Frollo.”

Jordan’s tight smile stiffened, “Charming. So what would you like?”

“You’re not going to trick him right?” Jade jumped in, a sudden fear entering her mind as she remembered the stories.

“Of course not! He’s a child.” Jordan said defensively.

“So? I’m the child of Nasira and you Auradonians are fine with leaving me here to live with her.” Jade pointed out. “I had nothing to do with that. I’m trying to rescue all of you from the Coven and change things a bit.” Jordan said.

“You still-”

“How about you don’t judge me for the mistakes of the adults in my life and I won’t judge you for the mistakes of Nasira and Mozonroth and the others.” Jordan suggested, and turned her attention to Malik, “What would you like?”

“Candy! Unlimited supply of candy!” Malik said.

“Hmm that’s nice but wouldn’t you prefer an unlimited supply of food?” Jordan suggested.

“I want candy.” Malik insisted.

“Food includes candy.” Jordan said.

“You sure?” Malik eyed her suspiciously.

Jordan gave him a genuine smile, and Jade shook her head in amusement. Why were kids so cute like this? He’d be an excellent manipulator when he got older with those big brown eyes of his. People would want to give him stuff.

“Let me think, let me think. How did Mom do this with Dhandi? Oh right. Malik, repeat after me. I wish…”

“I wish,” Malik repeated slowly.

“To have an unlimited supply of food and never go hungry again!”

“Done!” Jordan snapped her fingers and a giant fridge dropped in from one where the door burst open with the sweet smell of fresh fruits, vegetables and yes, several tubs of ice cream.

“Is that cotton candy ice cream?” Jade gasped, her mouth already watering at the sight of Malik digging in. She hesitated for a moment before diving in herself, she deserved it after her panic attack earlier.

“When I deliver, I deliver.” Jordan flipped her ponytail.

Jade ripped the lid off and savored the cold sweetness. It stung her tongue with its freezing temperature but it was so refreshing and delicious she ate through the pain.

“Oo oo can I ush mugh wishto fly?” Malik asked with his mouth full and ice cream dripping down his chin.

“Yes, whatever you want. Just swallow the food first.” Jordan told him.

“I wish I could fly!” Malik commanded.

“A little faith, trust and some pixie dust.” Jordan clapped her hands letting the boy float up and start doing somersaults in the air, nearly crashing into the ceiling.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea to grant his wish to um” Jade paused to swallow past a large lump of ice cream and began to hack.

“Oh it’s fine. He didn’t wish to fly forever. He’ll come down in an hour.” Jordan waved off her concerns and patted her on the back till she got the food down. “He’s so sweet. It’s amazing how you all are related.”

Hmm so much for no judging based on the sins of their relatives.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jade asked with a false sweetness, scooping another piece of ice cream that trickled down her fingers.

“Oh you know. Antiqam’s a monster. Malik is such an adorable sweetie. You’re...uh I’m sure you’re a nice person. I mean you saved Aziz so..thank you.”

Jade was taken aback by the thankfulness in Jordan’s voice. She had never been thanked before. Not that she remembered. And the sincere meaning held into that one “thank you,” it gave her a warm feeling inside. For a brief moment, she thought if she didn’t gain anything from helping Aziz, she wouldn’t mind. That thank you would be enough.

Heh maybe that’s why Auradonians did good deeds like this all the time? It felt good.

But not as good as the ice cream. On second thought, she wouldn’t be able to live on “thank you”s alone. She wanted the other perks too.

“And Jay’s..Jay’s himself.” Jordan finished lamely.

“Himself? That’s not an answer. What are you holding back?” Jade questioned.

Jordan sighed, “He’s a jerk.”

“He saved Auradon! Twice!”

“Still a jerk. So greedy and self absorbed and a kleptomaniac. He acts too much like his father for my taste.”

“So? You can’t expect him to throw off years of habits just because he lives in Auradon now. He’s saved your kingdom and he’s trying to be good. Is that not enough for you people?” Jade retorted, feeling a deep need to defend her cousin.

What did she know? She was an all powerful genie, she never wanted for anything. She lived with the good guys who never hit her. She never had to scavenge for food or try to survive winter with only the scraps of clothes that she had since she was 8.

“I’m just saying. Carlos grew up on the Isle and he’s incredibly sweet. He’s not into all the fighting and lies like he breathes.” Jordan snorted.

“You’re right, Carlos didn’t really know how to fight and because of that, he got abused by Cruella.” Jade shot back, “If Jay acted like a goody goody all the time how do you think Jafar would react? He was already disappointed enough by Jay when he lived here because he couldn’t get that “big score.” Don’t judge him, you hardly know him.”

“Fine, you have a point. But still, just because he’s back on the Isle, it doesn’t mean he has to revert back to it. He doesn’t have to use people anymore. And lie and make false promises about wish.. I-I mean. May-maybe just think about others besides himself.” Jordan ranted.

“He cares about others! Have you’ve seen how protective and caring he is of his friends?”

“But what about you? You’re his cousin, and he never talks about you. I didn’t even know you existed until we came here. Some caring guy.” Jordan said sarcastically.

“That’s not- that’s not his fault. He would if I let him care about him but..” Jade shrugged feeling a foolish emotional lump gather in her front.

Not again! She wasn’t going to cry twice in one day.

Jade frantically blinked back her tears, “I pushed him away because.. because… We’re better on our own. Lone wolf, all that. You wouldn’t understand. It’s a family thing.”

“You really care about him even though he acted like he forgot about you?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s my cousin and I care about him enough that I don’t want to see him hurt or used. And I know that even though we don’t spend much time together, he would still do the same for me. He has a family honor that you don’t see. And if he chooses to care about you, there is no other big brother figure you’d want by your side.”

Jordan stared at her curiously but the look in her eye showed that she believed her. “Wow.”

“Yeah well. It’s true.” Jade crossed her arms defensively.

What was with her today? Two emotional speeches unleashing her own baggage in one day.

“Would you say Jay is like your platonic soulmate? Like if you could trust one person, he’d be that person you’d put your trust and well being in? While having the most fun ever?”

It was a weird question but all it took was Jade to look at Jay’s hypnotized face, even though she never let him protect her like a big brother would, she still trusted him to have her back in other ways. He still acted like a big brother of sorts when they did hang out. He inspired her to be more fearless in an effort to keep up with his impulsive activity. Though he didn’t mean to, he comforted her after a bad day by helping her forget.

One particularly good memory she had was Jay’s 13 birthday. Jay never favored one of those lavish parties the other kids had who had delusions of retaining their semi-royal status like Evie or Anthony Tremine. He just spent the day getting into mischief. He bumped into her and she joined him celebrating his day by scavenging Madame Medusa’s pawn shop and then ending it with getting lower back tattoos. He got a striking cobra and hers was a coiled viper.

She had to pay for impulsive her decision when she got home. Her mom hated that tattoo. She thought it was vulgar and unbecoming for her child but Jade felt it was worth it anyway. She was her own person, she wanted a tattoo, and because Jay had a similar one, she felt it immortalized their relationship. Two different snakes form the same family.

So yeah, she trusted him, and she loved raising hell with him. On a way he was her first real friend before Yzla came along. He was her platonic soulmate if that’s what it meant. Only in a lot less sappy way.

Smiling at the memory Jade came back to earth and saw Jordan smiling way too happily for her taste.

“What? Do I have ice cream in my teeth?”

“No, you don’t have to say a word, your face answered my question. Let me handle this.”

Jade let the genie girl do her thing because honestly she didn’t know what it was.

Jordan pulled some sort of invisible string that brought Malik down from flying around and making parrot noises.

“Hey, know what would be a fun third wish?” Jordan clapped her hands excitedly, “For your third wish, let’s make Jay fun again. This Jay is boring right?”

“Yes,” Malik nodded sagely, “He’s very boring. He hasn’t said a word in three days and follows others around like the dog he is.”

Jade and Jordan looked at Malik curiously which Malik shrugged innocently, “That’s what Antiqam said.”

“He’s such an asshole,” Jade muttered.

“Alright, so repeat after me, I wish for Jay to be unhypnotized.” Jordan held his hands intently and Malik nodded in agreement, obediently repeating, “I wish for Jay to be unhypnotized.”

“You could have unhypnotized Jay this whole time?” Jade cried under her breath as Jordan settled into a lotus position.

“No. One, I’ve been under Antiqam’s care until now so I haven’t had time. Two, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I’m a genie. People can do whatever they want from me. But I can’t transform a human or hypnotize him or manipulate him in any way unless he is in my lamp or if he wishes for it. It’s a shitty universal double standard. But now I can since Malik wished it. So shush. I haven’t done a big wish like this before so I need to concentrate.”

Jade stood back with Malik gripping her leg to keep from floating up again, waiting awkwardly for something to happen while Jordan seemed to do some sort of weird yoga breathing as smoke grew taller and taller around her.

“Is Jay unhypnotized yet?” Malik whispered, “Shhhhh.”

The smoke began to build and so did the humidity in the room making Jade’s hair plastered to her face and sweat drip down uncomfortable places on her skin, and she was beginning to feel faint.

Then all at once the heat of the room whooshed out of the room and the smoke cleared.

Jay was swaying uneasily, holding a hand to his head, “Wha? What happened?”

“Jay!” Malik flew to Jay knocking him against the wall much to the teen’s confusion.

Jade felt a wide smile spreading across her face, and she didn’t care at all about her reputation and her promise not to be too friendly with Jay for fear of her mom’s wrath.

Things were changing, and she wasn’t going to wait any until they defeated the Coven to start openly disobeying her mom. She would do it now, and if she got caught and her mom wanted to hit her, she’d figure out a way to get out of it. That’s what she did.

For now, she was going to allow herself to be hugged for once, and enjoy the safety that was Jay and his protective instincts.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Jayal.”

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