The next morning broke bright and early, heralding another round of moral life lessons courtesy of Fairy Godmother. The classroom was impossibly cheerful, the walls adorned with pastel posters that declared slogans like "MOUTHS ARE FOR SMILING, NOT FOR BITING" and "SHARING IS CARING." In bold, glittery letters, the blackboard proudly proclaimed: "WELCOME TO REMEDIAL GOODNESS!"—a title that Mal and her gang couldn't take seriously, no matter how hard they tried.

The four of them sat slouched at their desks, their collective mood a mix of boredom and resignation. Even Astird, who'd grown up navigating the moral gray areas of heroism and villainy, felt the weight of the saccharine lessons settling on her shoulders. It wasn't that she didn't believe in goodness—it's just that Fairy Godmother's idea of it felt... exhausting.

At the front of the room, Fairy Godmother was in her element, guiding them through yet another perplexing ethical scenario. Her voice was sweet, but it carried the tone of someone who expected to fix them.

"When faced with a crying baby," she began with her trademark enthusiasm, "do you: A. cast a curse to silence it, B. lock it in a tower, C. give it a bottle, or D. something entirely unthinkable?"

Evie's hand shot up before anyone else could react. "Ooh, pick me!" she said, bouncing slightly in her seat.

Fairy Godmother gave a patient smile. "Yes, Evie?"

Evie tilted her head thoughtfully. "Wait—what was option B again?"

A ripple of suppressed laughter passed through the room. Fairy Godmother raised an eyebrow, suppressing her own amusement. "Never mind that. Does anyone else know the correct answer?"

Astird exchanged a quick look with Mal, who rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't stick. Jay let out a groan of frustration, while Carlos muttered something encouraging to Mal like he was her emotional support coach.

Fairy Godmother's gaze landed on Astird. "Astird," she prompted, "what would you do?"

Astird, always the pragmatist, didn't hesitate. "C. Obviously. Give it a bottle."

"Very good!" Fairy Godmother beamed like a proud parent. "It's wonderful to see all of you catching on!"

Mal smirked faintly, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, we're catching something," she muttered under her breath.

Before anyone could reply, the classroom door creaked open. A nervous-looking girl stepped inside, her pale blue dress fluttering slightly as she adjusted the massive bow perched atop her head. Her eyes darted toward Mal's crew, lingering for a beat too long before she hurried to Fairy Godmother's desk.

"Hi," the girl mumbled, cheeks turning the color of fresh raspberries. "You, um, need to sign for my early release. For the coronation." She shoved a clipboard toward her mother, hands trembling slightly.

Fairy Godmother's face lit up. "Of course, sweetheart," she said, taking the clipboard. With a flourish, she added her signature. Then, as if she'd been waiting for this moment, she turned to the class and announced, "This is my daughter, Jane."

"Mom!" Jane whispered harshly, visibly mortified.

Jay stifled a snicker, nudging Carlos. Mal arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, while Astird just watched with mild amusement.

Fairy Godmother ignored Jane's embarrassment, returning the clipboard with a gentle smile. "Off you go, dear," she said warmly.

Jane offered an awkward wave, then practically bolted out of the room.

"Please excuse her," Fairy Godmother said with a little laugh. "I may have shared a few too many bedtime stories about your...parents." Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Mal and Astird, but her smile remained serene.

The lecture continued, spiraling into a debate over the finer points of goodness. Jay and Carlos, naturally, took the opportunity to argue loudly about hypothetical situations, much to Fairy Godmother's chagrin. Astird sighed, tuning them out as her thoughts drifted to Jane.

There was something about her—the shy, earnest way she carried herself—that caught Astird's attention. She could already imagine Elsa's face if she ever found out her daughter was hanging out with Fairy Godmother's kid. That thought alone was enough to make Astird grin.

Maybe this "goodness" class wasn't a total loss after all.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

The hallway buzzed with the usual hum of student chatter as Mal, Evie, and Astird strolled toward Mal's locker. In stark contrast to the pristine lockers around it, Mal's was a masterpiece of rebellion: bold letters spelled out "EVIL LIVES" in vibrant spray paint, the edges shadowed for that extra dramatic flair. Mal leaned back with a self-satisfied smirk, crossing her arms as she admired her handiwork.

"It's got a certain... je ne sais quoi," she said, winking at Astird, who stood at her side with an amused grin.

Astird tilted her head, pretending to assess the art critically. "If by je ne sais quoi, you mean dangerously close to detention, then yeah. It's perfect." She tapped her chin playfully. "So, thoughts on Auradon so far?"

Mal shrugged, her smirk deepening. "It's alright. Bright, squeaky clean, full of sunshine and rainbows. But hey, now that you're here, things are looking up."

Astird rolled her eyes at the flirt, but the small laugh that escaped her betrayed her amusement.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of laughter—high-pitched, pointed, and obnoxiously close. They turned to see Audrey and Chad strolling toward them, looking every bit the golden couple of Auradon Prep. Audrey, decked out in pink and pearls, tilted her sunglasses down to examine Mal with an expression that dripped disdain. Chad, in his ever-present letterman jacket, puffed up like a peacock, clearly relishing the attention.

"Well, well," Chad drawled, gesturing toward Mal's locker. "Looks like someone brought their Isle charm to school. How... quaint."

Audrey folded her arms and shot Mal a saccharine smile laced with venom. "Not that we expected any better. But, Ben, seriously?" She turned toward the prince trailing behind them. "You've got to see this. EVIL LIVES? What kind of message does that send?"

Ben, ever the diplomat, ignored Audrey and Chad's theatrics, his eyes locking on Mal instead. "Hey," he said with a small, genuine smile. "I didn't know you were into art."

Astird snorted. "Art? Let's not get carried away. It's spray paint, not the Mona Lisa."

Ben chuckled at the jab but pressed on. "Still, you've got talent. You should think about signing up for art class."

Mal raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued but carefully hidden behind her usual bravado. "I'll think about it," she said casually. Then, her eyes flicked past Ben, catching sight of Jane hurrying by, clutching her books tightly to her chest. The timid girl had a habit of skittering through hallways like she didn't want to be seen. But Mal wasn't about to let her slip by unnoticed.

"Jane!" Mal called out, stepping into her path with a wide, disarming smile. "Hey, don't run off. We were just going to say hi."

Jane froze, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. "Oh, um, hi," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

Astird leaned in, her smile warm and inviting. "It's Jane, right? Such a classic name. Love it."

Jane blinked, her surprise melting into cautious gratitude. "Thanks."

Mal's gaze swept over Jane's simple outfit and short, unassuming hair. "You've got great potential," Mal said smoothly. "But you know, if you're looking for a little upgrade..." She pulled out her spellbook, flipping through its pages with practiced ease. "I've got just the thing."

Jane's eyes widened as Mal stopped on a page. "Oh, no, that's okay. I don't—"

"Don't be shy," Mal interrupted with a grin. "You'll love it. Trust me."

Astird nudged Jane gently toward the nearest bathroom, and before Jane could protest, she found herself staring into the mirror, flanked by Mal and Astird.

"Alright," Mal declared, holding up the book. "Let's start with something simple. Your hair could use a little... oomph." She read aloud, her voice dripping with dramatic flair: "Beware, forswear, replace the old with brand-new hair!"

A faint glow enveloped Jane's head, and within seconds, her short, plain hair transformed into cascading waves that framed her face perfectly.

Jane gasped, her hands flying to her new locks. "Oh my gosh! It's—wow! Thank you!"

"Anytime," Mal said, smirking as she closed the book. "But hey, if you want more, just say the word. I've got a whole arsenal of spells that could work wonders."

Jane hesitated, then blurted out, "Do my nose!"

Astird burst out laughing. "Okay, let's not go overboard."

Jane looked sheepish but still thrilled with her transformation. "My mom would never go for this," she admitted, her tone tinged with regret. "She thinks magic should only be used for, like, history lessons or whatever."

"What a buzzkill," Mal said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, she turned Cinderella into a total knockout for the ball. Why not her own kid?"

Jane shrugged. "She says it's what's inside that counts."

Mal smirked. "Sure, sure. But a little outside sparkle never hurt anyone."

Jane giggled, her cheeks glowing with newfound confidence. "If she ever decides to use that wand again, I'll let you guys know."

"You'd better," Astird said, flashing a grin. "I wouldn't miss that for the world."

As Jane left, practically skipping down the hallway, Mal leaned against the sink with a satisfied smile. "Well, that was easy."

"Too easy," Astird agreed, crossing her arms. "We just created a whole new monster. And I love it."

Mal chuckled, closing her spellbook. "Auradon better watch out. Things are about to get interesting."