The Isle of the Lost was a place of perpetual shadows, where the sun barely broke through the heavy gray clouds. The air smelled of salt, rust, and decay, and the streets were a maze of crumbling buildings and makeshift homes. Mal liked it that way. She had carved out her own corner of chaos here, thriving in the underbelly of the world where villains ruled and schemes flourished.

She perched on the edge of a broken-down rooftop, the wind tugging at her purple hair as she peered down at the bustling marketplace below. Her leather jacket creaked as she shifted, resting her chin in her palm. Evie, Jay, and Carlos were supposed to meet her here hours ago, but time on the Isle had its own rhythm—slow, maddening, and utterly unpredictable.

“Mal!”

She turned at the sound of Evie’s voice, spotting her best friend climbing up the ladder with an exaggerated huff. Evie’s cobalt hair was perfectly styled, as usual, her blue dress somehow spotless despite the grime of the Isle.

“You know, not all of us are part spider,” Evie complained, hoisting herself onto the roof.

Mal smirked. “Maybe if you wore something you could actually climb in, we wouldn’t have this problem.”

“Excuse me for not dressing like I rolled out of a garbage can,” Evie shot back, brushing off her skirt.

Before Mal could retort, Jay’s voice echoed from below. “Hey, lovebirds! Are we doing this or what?”

Mal leaned over the edge to see Jay standing with Carlos, both of them carrying their usual mischievous grins. Jay had a stolen apple in one hand, tossing it idly like a ball, while Carlos was busy scratching Dude, his mangy mutt of a dog, behind the ears.

“Come on up,” Mal called, waving them up. “We’ve got work to do.”

Once they were all gathered, the four of them formed a loose circle, the rooftop their unofficial meeting spot. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs—a place to plan their next schemes or just escape the chaos of the Isle.

“So, what’s the plan?” Jay asked, biting into the apple.

Mal rolled her eyes. “We’re not here for a heist, Jay. I wanted to talk.”

“Talk?” Carlos repeated, raising an eyebrow. “What are we, adults now?”

“Hardly,” Evie muttered, crossing her arms. “What’s this about, Mal?”

Before Mal could answer, a sharp caw split the air. Diablo, her mother’s raven, swooped down from the sky, landing gracefully on the edge of the roof. In his talons, he carried a rolled-up scroll tied with a golden ribbon. Mal felt her stomach twist. Anything bearing a royal seal meant trouble.

“What is that?” Carlos asked warily, eyeing the scroll like it might explode.

“Let’s find out,” Mal said, taking the scroll from Diablo. The bird cawed again before taking off, disappearing into the gray sky.

Mal broke the seal and unrolled the parchment, her eyes scanning the elegant script. As she read, her friends crowded around her, their curiosity palpable.

“It’s an invitation,” she said slowly, her voice laced with disbelief. “From Auradon Prep.”

“Auradon?” Evie repeated, her blue eyes widening. “You mean the Auradon? Land of heroes, castles, and happily-ever-afters?”

“Yep,” Mal said, holding up the scroll. “Apparently, Prince Ben has this genius idea to give ‘second chances’ to the kids of villains. He’s inviting us to attend his fancy prep school.”

Jay let out a low whistle. “Didn’t see that coming.”

Carlos frowned. “This has to be a joke, right? Why would they want us there?”

Before anyone could answer, the sound of heavy boots on stone echoed from below. Mal’s heart sank as she recognized the deliberate, commanding stride of her mother.

“Great,” she muttered. “Just what we need.”

Maleficent appeared moments later, her long black robes billowing as she ascended the ladder with an eerie grace. Her sharp green eyes zeroed in on Mal, the scroll clutched in her hand.

“Mal,” she said, her voice silky and dangerous. “I see you’ve received our little invitation.”

“How do you always know everything?” Mal grumbled, stepping back as her mother approached.

Maleficent smirked. “Because I make it my business to know. Now, let me see that.”

Mal handed over the scroll reluctantly, watching as her mother’s eyes skimmed the text. A slow, sinister smile spread across Maleficent’s face, and Mal felt a chill crawl up her spine.

“This,” Maleficent said, her voice dripping with satisfaction, “is an opportunity.”

“An opportunity for what?” Carlos asked nervously.

“To destroy Auradon from the inside,” Maleficent said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“What?” Evie gasped, her hand flying to her chest.

Maleficent turned to the group, her gaze sharp as a blade. “Don’t you see? That fool of a prince is handing us the key to their kingdom. If you four go to Auradon, you’ll have access to their secrets, their weaknesses—and most importantly, Fairy Godmother’s wand.”

“The wand?” Jay echoed, his interest piqued.

“Yes,” Maleficent purred. “With that wand, we can bring down the barrier and free every villain trapped on this miserable Isle. Imagine it: the reign of the heroes brought to an end, and the villains restored to their rightful place.”

Mal swallowed hard. She had spent her entire life trying to prove herself to her mother, but this? This was big—too big.

“And if we don’t do it?” she asked cautiously.

Maleficent’s eyes darkened, her smile vanishing. “Failure is not an option, Mal. You’ve spent your life in my shadow, and now you have the chance to prove your worth. Don’t disappoint me.”

The weight of her mother’s words settled heavily on Mal’s shoulders. She glanced at her friends, who looked just as conflicted as she felt. This wasn’t just a prank or a heist—it was a mission that could change everything.

“We’ll do it,” Mal said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest. “We’ll get the wand.”

Her mother’s smile returned, cold and triumphant. “Good. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

As Maleficent descended the ladder, leaving them alone once more, Mal turned to her friends.

“Well,” she said, forcing a smirk, “looks like we’re going to Auradon.”

Evie frowned. “Are we seriously doing this?”

“We don’t have a choice,” Mal said firmly. “If we don’t, she’ll make our lives hell. Besides, maybe we can figure out a way to make this work for us.”

Jay shrugged. “Could be fun. Free food, nice clothes, and maybe a few shiny things to steal.”

Carlos sighed, scratching Dude’s ears. “I guess we’re in, then.”

Mal nodded, her resolve hardening. If they were going to Auradon, they’d play the game—but on their terms. And if she had to steal Fairy Godmother’s wand to survive, so be it.

The Isle of the Lost had taught her one thing: trust no one, and always have a backup plan.

Hey guys I hope you like this chapter. And yes I changed a few things. No Carlos ain't scared of dogs and he already has dude because dude snuck on to on of the boats that brought raw food to the isle Back when he was a pup. And Diablo is in this book somewhat.