The Isle of the Lost had practically been abandoned. No villain wanted to be trapped there any longer. VKs refused to stay in the prison it was.

That was why he stayed.

Garbage piled up by the docks and in alleyways, and uncared-for houses sagged. Abandoned stores' walls crumbled from decay. Stray juveniles ran the streets, commanding gangs and causing slight chaos. And within the rubble of what was now truly "of the Lost," there was a stone hubble. Far from what he once resided in. Dirt floors were coated in dust, and beady-eyed rats skittered through holes in the walls. A rusty kitchen was unmoved from the previous day's last meal.

The four-roomed cottage was busted, with broken windows letting in muffled sunlight. The darkest room, tucked in the upper-left corner, was cold and empty. Shiny stones, metal shards, and broken, forgotten bits of jewelry were shut away in a small box on the window sill. Clothes were piled on the ground, and a teddy bear was tossed on top of it. Hanging on a hammock, lost in dreams, was-

"HANNAH KING."

A teenage girl was shaken awake from her sleep, and in her shock, she fell out of her hammock. She lay on the floor for a moment, breathing in the dirt and dust. She pushed herself off the ground, grumbling slightly and rubbing the horns that peeked out of her hair.

"YOU STILL DARE SLEEP! RISE!"

Hannah scrambled to her feet, brushing debris off of herself. In moments, she was dressed in a black dress, combat boots, and a dark red cloak that went to her knees. A bat waking from the rafters squeaked and fluttered down to her. She smiled slightly at it. "Hello, Gumbie. Looks like I overslept." She clicked her tongue. "That doesn't usually happen..." The teen shook her head. "Nevermind, there are chores to be done."

Soon, she was rushing about in the kitchen, getting sausages cooked and ready for breakfast. Footsteps were heard close by as he emerged from his bedroom. Hannah's hands shivered slightly as she placed some food on two plates. She set them on the nearby table and looked at the doorway. Standing there was him.

The Horned King.

His ashy skin - reminiscent of rotting flesh - was pulled tight on his bones. Dull, dark sockets, and a backdrop of haunting eyelights. Bone-like horns stuck out of his musty red cloak.

"Good morning, Father. I apologize for breakfast being late." Hannah squeaked.

He didn't respond with words, and merely narrowed his sockets at his daughter. "I'll get started on sweeping the floors right away." She added, grabbing a broom leaning on the wall. The King sat down at the table and began eating his food. As Hannah cleaned, her mind wandered.

"Father...?" The King glanced at her. "I've been having... odd dreams lately. Of the Black Cauldron." Hannah tapped her fingers on the broom's handle. "Of your..." She bit on her words. "Your deathless warriors. From the Cauldron."

A low growl emitted from the Horned King's throat. Hannah felt her chest tighten. "What you dream of is what we both desire. My rise to power and the destruction of all in our way." Hannah smiled wearily. 'Not what I was thinking.' She thought.

Once her father was done, Hannah grabbed his plate and began to clean it in the rust-coated sink. The King's voice came from the other side of the room. "I want you to bring your friend here in an hour. Chase Diablo, is it?"

Hannah paused for a moment, her hands stopping as water and soap ran down them. Chase, who she called CJ, was her friend- her only one. She could picture the dark-haired, tired-eyed son of Chernabog easily. She had known him since they were tiny children, always running about the streets of the Isle and watching the stars

She felt her mouth quirk upwards in a slight smile at the thought of him. Though, the smile disappeared quickly. She knew her father didn't like CJ. At all.

Why would he be asking for her to bring him over when he'd snarl in annoyance when she just mentioned his name?

She turned to face the Horned King. "Why do you ask? I thought you didn't like him." She said, tilting her head slightly. Her father snorted slightly. "I don't." He said simply. Hannah waited for a moment, though a part of her knew she wouldn't get more of an answer than that. She turned back and finished washing the plate in her hands.

Eventually, Hannah was left to her own devices, as always on days her father didn't need her to do something. These were times she hardly stayed in the house, no matter how dangerous and chaotic the streets were. She felt Gumbie nuzzle himself into the hood of her cloak, and, with a faint smile, she left her house. She blinked in the sunlight, her sharp blue eyes adjusting to the brightness that didn't make itself into the house.

She scanned the streets, catching glimpses of teens running about the allies. She noticed fresh spray paint on the walls everywhere, most covering up old art. She noticed that one mural seemed practically untouched. A silhouette of a figure with horns and a cloak rippling around it, and green flames decorating.

So, off Hannah King went through the streets. She kicked garbage out of her way and brushed the dust that was shed from the building around her off of her clothes. She walked without direction, though she never really did. Her body typically felt aimless, even when around others- even when she snuck off to classes in Auradon.

She stopped for a moment, thinking about the faces she remembered from the other island. There was that tall, red-headed girl who didn't know who her story parent(s) were. There was also that skeleton, the daughter of Jack and Sally Skellington. And that odd, silent kid of Alice.

She could just slightly remember their names. Since she spent such little time there, not many knew of her, and she didn't know of many. The most attention- at least, positive attention - she got was in a music class where she was able to play the piano for just a minute or two. It was a hobby she was hardly allowed to express.

She smiled a little, reveling in the memories as she continued strolling. She caught glimpses of herself in nearby windows, observing the appearance she tried to maintain. She ran her fingers through her hair, which had faded from blonde to light brown over the years.

Before she knew it, the time had come for her to get CJ. So, she ran to where she knew her friend to typically roam. Then, she noticed a figure in a dark shirt, worn jeans, and familiar Converse shoes dodging the sunlight. Hannah smiled, ran toward the figure, then embraced him in a tackle-hug.

With anyone else, CJ probably would've freaked out and used some sort of magic to separate himself. However, as soon as he saw Hannah there, he smiled faintly. "Hey there, Hanny." He greeted.

Hannah pulled back, beaming brightly. "Great to see you!" Her expression suddenly changed as she remembered something. "Uh, Dad wants to see you." She said, her voice lower and quieter. CJ paused for a moment, wrapping his head around that idea. "Well, hopefully, he's not trying to kill me." He muttered.

~~~

"Father! I'm home! And I brought CJ!" Hannah said, opening the door of the old house. She squeaked a bit, seeing her father standing right in the front room. He tended to be in his own room, brooding or grumbling about his "great plan."

CJ glanced up at the skeleton-like man, his stomach bubbling with the angry sensation. He always had a bad feeling around the King. He hated how annoyed he sounded whenever Hannah did literally anything. And he just hated the monster in general.

However, the two teens were left even more surprised by the girl in the chair nearby. She was a Latina girl in a very colorful outfit, with a bright red flower in her braided hair. "Hello!" She hummed, waving excitedly.

Hannah glanced at her father, as if asking him what in the Isle was happening.

"I'm Gracie De La Cruz. Daughter of Ernesto. At your service, my teammates." The girl stood up and smiled. "And you two are Hannah King and Chase Diablo." She added.

The King glanced at Gracie, who noticed the dark glare and sat down quickly. "Gracie has volunteered the join the great plan." He said. CJ looked at Hannah and whispered, "What is he talking about?" Hannah shrugged, though she had an idea of all her father had been mumbling about.

"You three will be sneaking into Auradon's castle to steal the Black Cauldron, which will create the army of deathless warriors to take over the kingdom." The King said, his voice sounding like a knife against gravel. "The Isle will be the place of safety. I have gained enough magic of my first life glory to block off Auradon from this place."

Hannah remembered all the long-winded tales the King had told her. When he lived for the first time, he was a powerful demon with practically unending magic. Then, he's been destroyed and most of his magic was gone. With one rebirth, he'd lived for not long enough to have his former level of magic, as he'd been dragged into the Black Cauldron. Now, he'd been alive for years. She knew the power he weld now.

She knew how powerful it was now. It was the entire reason she existed.

CJ stared at the King. Was he actually crazy? Did he really think that he would agree to something like this? He glanced at Gracie, who was still smiling brightly. He had no idea why she was agreeing to be a part of this.

"So, my daughter," the King hissed. "Will you join your destiny?"

Hannah looked up at her father, thoughts that she didn't quite understand swirling in her head. One pricked her mind though. 'Will this make him proud?' With a deep breath, she nodded. "I-I will."

The Horned King, for once, gave him a smile, though it seemed grim. CJ looked at his friend. This did not seem like something his friend would do. Hannah looked up at the taller teen. Her eyes pleaded to him, as if asking for him to join. With just a bit of hesitation, CJ nodded. "I'm by your side." He said.

The King gazed down at them, the darkness in his soul reveling in how well his plan was going. He had his thieves.

A/N: Hey! Noot here! I hope you like this! It was mainly centered on Hannah, but I promise that the others will get their times to shine! Next chapter will be focused on the Cauldron Guardians!