▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐒 not what you would necessarily classify as a loner, however, she did have quite trouble making friends. Everyone knew who she was, they knew who her mother was, and despite her being given a princess title from her aunt who had declared her the heir of the throne, the actual princesses always sent her looks of distaste and judgement. She refused to wear dresses, usually donning the Auradon Prep halls with a t-shirt, leather jacket, and a pair of jeans. Her red hair was her symbol, one that she held on to with the hope of one day going back to the Isle to see her mother.

However, what the entire school did classify her as was the "bad girl" or "the villain kid". Quite frankly, Ilaria excepted those titles with pride. She wasn't cruel per say, but she wasn't afraid to tell you off, nor was she afraid to break the rules. She was a troublemaker, one that didn't give a care in the world about what others thought about her. She'd been personally disciplined by the King and Queen of Auradon themselves and she wore that like a badge of honor, as if it were the best prize to receive.

Hence why she was currently sitting in an empty classroom, accompanied only by Ilaria and Fairy Godmother. She was on her final strike, according to the King and Queen, and now she was being forced to take a Remedial Goodness class they'd created just for her. Her feet were propped up on the desk, crossed at the ankles, with her arms crossed over her chest out of boredom.

     Fairy Godmother sighed. "Ilaria, feet." She motioned with her pointer and Ilaria just rose a brow. Fairy Godmother watched her with a frown. "You know you're on your last strike, Ilaria. After this, there is no more, and you go back to the Isle―︎which your aunt does not want."

     Ilaria cocked her head to the side. "What if that's exactly what I want?"

     "Why would you want that?" Fairy Godmother asked, her frown deepening.

     "Well, why wouldn't I?" Ilaria asked, removing her feet from the desk and sitting up, bracing her arms on the desk. "I was born there, my mother is over there. I'm not wanted here, I'm not wanted there. The only difference is at least over there I'll be around people that won't expect me to dress up and flash a pretty smile and behave like a good little princess." She stood, pointing towards the door. "Can I go now?"

     The older woman sighed. "Yes, go on."

     Ilaria flashed a false smile. "Thanks." She quickly grabbed her bag that was red with silver spikes, tossing it over her shoulder and leaving the room. She walked down the halls, watching with amusement as people made way for her, quickly whispering in their friends ears as if she didn't know they were talking about her. She rolled her eyes.

     "Ria! Just the person I was looking for."

     Ilaria turned her head and this time a genuine smile pulled on her lips when she spotted Ben. "Hey, Ben." See, the thing was, Ilaria could be a really nice person. However, people never gave her the chance, saying cruel things to her, and in response Ilaria was cruel back. But Prince―︎soon to be King―︎Ben had never once treated her with such cruelty. He was the first friend she ever made. "What's up?"

     They began walking towards her dorm. Ben had a nervous smile on his face. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

     Ilaria furrowed her brows. "Alright. . ."

     "Not here." He shook his head. "Is it okay if we speak in your dorm?"

     Ilaria nodded. They made their way up the stairs and Ilaria asked, "No girlfriend?"

     "No. I managed to escape her to come find you."

     Ilaria chuckled. "Does the she-devil know you ran away from her to go to another girl's dorm room?"

     Ben instantly rolled his eyes at the innuendo, earning an amused smirk from Ilaria as she pushed open her door. "Yes, she knows I left to find you."

     Ilaria tossed her bag in the chair that was sitting at her desk, plopping herself down on her bed. "I'm sure she had lots to say."

     Ben gave her a strained smile. "Well, you know Audrey."

     Ilaria clicked her tongue. "That I do." She pushed the hair from her face, placing her hands behind her so she could lean backwards and use her arms to keep her propped up. "What did you need?"

     Nervously, Ben rubbed his hands together. "So, tomorrow, I'm declaring my first proclamation."

     "Mhm."

     "And. . . I intend to bring a few of the kids from the Isle to Auradon, a chance to mend the broken relationship we have with them."

     Ilaria slowly rose a brow. "Okay. . . and you need me, why?"

     Ben sighed. "I don't know how to say this without making me sound. . . judgmental."

     Ilaria rolled her eyes. "Just say it." She rose a hand. "I swear on my mother's life I won't be offended."

     "Alright, well, I thought since, you know, you're from the Isle and you've managed to. . . cope. . . with things over here, that you would be willing to help them out."

     Ilaria hummed. "Depends." She stood, walking over to a small drawer, pulling out a bag of chips and opening them, popping one in her mouth. She turned to Ben. "What do I get in return?"

     "Full immunity from my parents trying to banish you." Ben easily answered.

     Ilaria's brows rose, an amused smile pulling on her lips. "Alright, Benjamin. And who exactly are these kids parents?"

     Once again, he grew nervous. "Maleficent, Jafar, the Evil Queen, and Cruella De'Vil."

     A short laugh escaped her lips. "You chose the worst villains children to come to Auradon? Mummy and Daddy won't like this at all." She walked closer to him. "Do they even know?"

     Ben shook his head. "No, not yet. You're the first."

     Ilaria placed a hand over her heart. "Why Ben, you make me feel special."

     Ben glanced at her and his lips curled upwards. "You are special, Ria. You're my best friend."

     "Don't make me grow emotional now."

     He chuckled. "And being my best friend means you get the benefits of knowing what I plan to do before anyone else."

     Ilaria popped a chip in her mouth. "You should just recruit me to be your right hand."

     "When I'm King, maybe I will." Ben joked and Ilaria chuckled. "But seriously, will you help them? You're the perfect person for the job and I know there's going to be times when I'm not available, and I would like them to always have someone to help them out."

     Ilaria shrugged. "Yeah, I'll help. Doubt they'll accept it though."

     Instantly, Ben frowned. "Why wouldn't they?"

     "Well, for one, they're from the Isle and never ask for help. Two, my lovely mother and sweet Maleficent got into it a few years back. They don't exactly like each other." She took a seat on the edge of her bed. "But, if they'll accept my help I guess I'll give it to them."

     Ben clapped his hands together, closing his eyes as relief flooded through his veins. "You, Ria, are a saint."

     Ilaria sent him a quick wink and a smile. "I know. Tell the rest of the school that, won't you?"

     He gave a mocking bow. "As you wish, princess."

     Ilaria scrunched her nose up in disgust at the title. "Don't call me that."

     Ben laughed. "Yes ma'am."

     "Alright, your highness." Ilaria remarked. "Leave my sight, I need to sit here and not do my homework." Ben chuckled and shook his head, saying a quick goodbye before leaving the room.

Ilaria laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with a huff. She had a feeling she wasn't going to enjoy this. She appreciated Ben thinking of her, and Ilaria would do anything for him because she owed him a lot, but that didn't mean she was going to enjoy it. With a sigh, she kicked off her shoes, climbing under the covers and closing her eyes as she took a mid-day nap instead of doing the piles of homework that were patiently waiting for her on her desk.