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The first time Chad ever saw his mom cry was when he was six. They were hosting some royal dinner party for something Chad no longer remembers. The only memories of that night revolve around him accidentally spilling wine all over his dad.
The glass shattered to the ground, sending sharp jagged pieces of glass all over the floor. The white shirt his dad wore became soaked in red. There was a moment when everyone stopped, and all conversations ceased.
Before Chad could even try to apologize, his mother was on the ground picking up pieces of glass. Her fingers were cut, and little droplets of her blood fell onto the ground. Chad watched in vain has his dad begged mom to stop, repeating over and over that everything was okay, and that she was safe.
FG was the one to pull Chad away as their guests began grabbing dustpans and brooms. Dad pulled mom away, to treat her wounds, but all Chad could focus on was the tears streaming down her pale face as she shook in fear.
He remembers asking what was wrong and FG explaining how his mom didn’t grow up with good parents like he did. That she was forced to do an unreasonable amount of work and that accidents were met with cruel punishments.
Chad asked if he had done something wrong. After all, he was the one to spill the glass. It was his fault the glass cut his mom and his fault she was so upset.
It was his dad that explained that sometimes things that seemed little to them were a big deal to mom. That those things caused her to react as if she was a little girl again being punished for things out of her control.
He nodded along as if he understood. Chad knew what FG and dad were saying was important, but he didn’t really understand it. He was six, understandably.
While FG and dad talked about mom and something Chad would later learn was a therapist, he snuck away to his parents’ room. He crawled into bed, cuddled close to his mom and promised to protect her from evil stepparents.
She smiled at him, her tears finally ceasing and she pulled Chad even closer. They didn’t speak much after that, at least, Chad doesn’t remember if they did. One moment, it was the two of them huddled close and the next dad was enveloping them both. Chad woke up the next morning between his parents, the night before forgotten.
There were other moments from Chad’s childhood where his mom’s trauma reared its ugly head, but that first one always stuck with him. It was the first thought he had once he realized his compass only guided him towards the Isle of the Lost. It replayed over and over in his mind whenever anyone asked about his soulmate.
*
For a nation built on ‘Happily Ever After’, Auradon can be surprisingly private about soulmates. As a child Chad never really understood it, why wouldn’t everyone want to show off their soul compass to everyone else? Why wouldn’t people want to increase their chances of finding their soulmates?
For years Chad never bothered to hide his compass and its never moving needle point. Whenever the other royals brought their kids over, Chad immediately shoved his arm at them. The needle never pointed at them, but the lecture dad gave him on proper royal decorum always felt worth it.
Ben was the first person Chad met who also disobeyed the rules regarding royals and soulmates. Ben had his compass out just as Chad pointed his. They stared at one another, glancing between their compasses and each other for so long their parents actually thought they were soulmates.
Chad misses those days, where every new friend he made had the potential to be his soulmate. The days he, Jane, Ben, and later, Audrey sat around and imagined what their soulmates would be like. The four of them promised as kids to go on one grand adventure to find their soulmates after they graduated Auradon Prep.
As the years went on, that promise faded from their minds. Audrey started throwing herself into politics as Ben began his preparations for when he became king. Chad made other friends, mainly with the guys on the tourney team.
Aziz, like Chad, hadn’t found his soulmate either. Unlike Chad, Aziz’s soul mark never pointed in the direction of the Isle of the Lost. The heir of Agrabah had no desire to chase after his soulmate, instead choosing to wait for it to happen naturally. Kristian, of Arendelle, and Macarius, son of Hercules, both found their soulmates during their first year at Auradon Prep.
Chad was happy for Melody and Lonnie, he truly was, even if seeing them together made jealously curl through his veins.
It wasn’t fair. Everyone either had their soulmates or were so confident they would be found. Meanwhile, Chad couldn’t even admit to anyone he knew exactly where his soulmate currently was. They all had chances at their happy endings and all they did was rub it in Chad’s face.
The tourney locker rooms were filled with Kristian waxing poetry about Melody or Macarius going on and on about how cool Lonnie was. Which always brought in the topic of everyone else’s soulmate. Ben would get this starry-eyed look, a red flush across his cheeks and he talked about the future he wished to build with his other half. Aziz spoke of all the pranks and grand adventures he wished to do with his soulmate.
And Chad could only nod at the appropriate places and laugh along with them. He couldn’t share his plans or talk about what kind of person he thought was destined for him. The Isle of the Lost didn’t make good people. It was an eternal prison for all of Auradon’s biggest threats. Admitting his soulmate was there felt like admitting he was a danger to society.
*
It’s somewhere around this time Chad began covering his soul mark. Staring at that damned compass everyday was just another painful reminder Chad didn’t need. If he couldn’t remove the mark from his wrist then covering it was the next best thing.
It’s not like Chad could just burn the compass away and be done with it. Auradon Prep would just call his parents and then everyone would know exactly what kind of monster Chad was destined to become.
No, the mark needed to stay for now, at least until Chad could remove it without alerting anyone of what he’d done.
*
His teammates picked up on Chad’s distain for soulmates after a while. There were only so many excuses Chad could come up with to steer the topic away from soulmates and marks. After a while, Chad just stopped interacting with his teammates whenever soulmates came up. Instead, he threw himself into training and drills.
At least Coach was happy with Chad.
And if his teammates dropped the soulmate talks whenever Chad came by, believing that Chad had already met his soulmate, and they had parted on bad terms… Well, Chad wasn’t going to correct their assumptions.
Who needed love anyways, Chad was a prince and a prized tourney player. Women would flock from all over the world for a chance to be with him. A lot of royals had happy marriages without their soulmates being involved.
Chad could still be happy, couldn’t he?
*
There are so many willing girls at Auradon Prep. They bat their eyelashes at Chad, offer to help him with his needs and it’s not like Chad has any reason to refuse them.
They’re all beautiful, talented, funny and smart. And Chad isn’t worthy of any of them.
He tries to be but after a few weeks, their blind admiration of Chad fades out. They want more from him, more than Chad can give them. Romantic dates with candlelit dinners. Kisses blown during their Tourney Games.
Chad tries to give it to them, but he’s competing against their happy endings and none of the girls Chad filters through prefer him over their perfect partner. His love isn’t enough for them and the realization leaves him hallow.
They beg and plead for Chad to stay with them, but he breaks their hearts and moves onto the next love-struck girl. He should feel guilty for bruising their hearts but, unlike him, their soulmates can ease their suffering.
*
Chad stares blankly at his homework. He can barely remember what day it is, let alone whatever he’s supposed to be learning. His days all blur today. An endless cycle of waking up, moving through his classes, and talking with his friends at the appropriate times.
Tourney practice and games seems to be the only time Chad is present mentally for. Something about walking into the locker room and stripping into his jersey clears away that hazy feeling that seems to last longer and longer.
Running drills as Coach yells out improvements makes Chad feel alive again. Running after Ben, defending his back as Macarius and Aziz try to stop him never fails to bring a smile to Chad’s face during practice. The cheering of the crowds as their team scores the winning goal is the only time Chad truly forgets about his soulmate.
True love, destiny, and Isles full of villains have no place on the tourney field. Chad used to hate Coach’s rule about ‘leaving your problems off of the tourney field’ but now it’s his only solace. On the field Chad isn’t the son of Cinderella and Prince Charming. Here he’s just another player on the team, another number in the sea of jerseys.
If only the rest of Chad’s life could be spent on the tourney field.
*
She’s still taking but Chad hasn’t heard a word of what’s she has said. Chad can’t even remember who she is. He knows she’s one of Audrey’s friends which means she’s probably a princess of another kingdom. His parents might be pissed off if Chad ruined their relationship with another kingdom because he broke some royal’s heart.
She’s pretty, at least Chad thinks he should find her attractive. Slightly tanned skin, light brown hair and her eyes are a pretty mix of blue and green. Her dress, a pale white color with various glistening rhinestones shining in the sun’s light, is tailored perfectly to her body. Chad knows he should find her absolutely beautiful, jaw droppingly stunning, or as captivating as a sunrise.
All Chad feels is an emptiness slowly submerging him in an endless sea of nothingness. He should feel enchanted by her beauty or annoyed at himself for not finding her interesting enough to remember.
“Chad?”
“Hrm?” Chad tries flashing her one of his most charming smiles.
“I said, I would like to see if we were soulmates before we continued dating.” She says, her voice softspoken and smooth.
Any other guy would be swooning after her. Her soulmate would be lucky to have her, and Chad knows her other half won’t be him. He could have made them happy. The life he could give her would be filled with riches and fame.
Who needs love anyway? Chad’s doing fine without it. If she wants her precious soulmate so badly then so be it. Who is Chad to stand in the way of true love. He tightens his hands into a fist as a sneer takes over his face, hardening his features into something truly wicked.
“Chad?” She hesitantly reaches a hand out but pulls away before they touch.
“We’re done.” His voice is devoid of any emotion. The anger bubbling under the surface of his skin never breeches to the surface.
She recoils as if burned. Tears well up in her eyes as her lips bobble as she tries and fails to not cry. They’re all the same. Everyone in this damned kingdom wants their beloved soulmates. What about Chad? Why does his happiness need to be tied forever to an evil stranger he’s never met- a stranger he has no desire to meet in the first place?
*
It’s not fair, Chad thinks as he buries himself deeper into his blankets. Across the room, Ben quietly recites some speech he needs to give at his next council meeting. As far as Ben’s aware, Chad’s sleeping and Chad has no desire to reveal otherwise.
After his disaster of a date all Chad wanted to do was sleep. Lying in his bed with the curtains pulled shut, Chad still can’t seem to sleep. Sleep, just like the happiness he deserves, seems to have escaped him.
He’s being haunted. Haunted by the evils his soulmate has committed. Chad sees it whenever he closes his eyes; his mother dead beneath his feet, his father disowning him to the Isle, Chole sobbing as Chad forces her to scrub the floors until her hands bleed.
Chad squeezes his eyes shut, willing the tears that threat to spill out from his eyes to stop. He clenches his jaw shut and swallows his sobs. If Ben saw him like this, he wouldn’t stop searching for the cause of Chad’s distress.
Ben can’t know. No one can know. This has to be a secret Chad takes to his grave.
From under the smooth leather cuff, his soul mark taunts him, tainting him in darkness. It’s all his soulmate's fault. They’ve ruined him. They’ve ruined his life and future. Chad hates her him. Chad hopes they never find each other.
*
“Chad?” Jane’s voice quivers as she calls out to him.
Chad can see the tears in her eyes and the confusion all over her face. He knows why she’s here. He knows exactly what she’s going to accuse him of doing. He doesn’t have the energy for this.
“Audrey says you broken up with half the girls in our class. I just…” Her voice trails off as she stares intensely at Chad.
Of course it was Audrey that ratted him out to Jane. Not that either girl could understand him or what he’s dealing with. It’s not like he sets out to dump them. Chad tries in the beginning and so do they. The girls fawn after him, all willing to do whatever menial tasks Chad sets for a chance at gaining him for a boyfriend.
But then they want more, or they want their soulmates. Once they realize Chad isn’t their soulmate or that he won’t give them more than scarps of his love; well, it’s just easier to break up with them before they leave him. This way, they still retain some interest in him.
“What do you want, Jane?” So far, all she’s done is list fact after fact. Which is better than Audrey hurling words like they’re daggers.
Why couldn’t they send Ben? All he does is look disappointed until Chad promises to be better. It doesn’t even matter that they both know he won’t change, Ben still holds onto hope that Chad will become a better boyfriend.
Jane squirms in place, lips twitching in dismay as she fiddles nervously with her sleeve. “Why not wait for your soulmate? Wouldn’t you be happier with them?”
All at once, it’s like Jane poured cold water down Chad’s back. How could Jane understand his plight. Sweet, innocent Jane whose soulmate is probably made of sugar; how could Chad explain he’s tethered to a monster full of evil.
He wants to tell her. Jane would forgive almost anything. But then he hears his mother’s voice whispering in his ear; ‘Oh Jane, she reminds me so much of myself at that age!’ and changes his mind. Chad won’t taint Jane with his darkness, not like Lady Tremaine did with his mom.
Jane, his oldest friend, his sister in all but blood. Chad cannot risk damping her light with his darkness. There’s only one choice. There’s only one way to protect Jane. He has to remove himself from the equation.
“Chad? What’s wrong, you’re shaking!” Jane rushes towards him but Chad pushes her away before she gets too close.
For a while, they just stare at one another as Chad tries to no avail to say the words he knows Jane will never forgive him for speaking aloud. It’s one of the perks of knowing her for so long, Chad knows exactly what words to say to break Jane without her tattling on him.
“What do you know? You’re just a useless fey with no magic. We’re only friends because your mom helped mine. Nothing more, nothing less!”
Chad regrets his idea the moment the words leave his mouth. He watches as the color drains from Jane’s face and tears well in her eyes. She pulls her hands away from him as if she’s been burned by cold iron. Her body shudders and shakes as faint little sobs rack out from her body.
The last time Chad had seen Jane look like this was back during her father’s funeral. He’d held her close and hugged her tightly as her sobs echoed all throughout the room. Chad spent a full week at FG’s place; his hand firmly held in Jane’s. Chad promised her before his mom took him back home that he wouldn’t let anything hurt her like that again.
It was the naive promise of a seven year old, one that, until today, Chad never thought he’d break. He really is a monster, isn’t he? All he does is darken the lives of everyone he meets. Who would have thought the next curse Auradon faced would be Chad Charming?
*
“You did what?!” Chad shrieks, feeling his hysertia rises with very moment.
“I gave my first proclamation to the council. It’s to release some of the Isle children to Auradon Prep as a way to rehabilitate them. They agreed this morning to send over eight teenagers.” Ben replies calmly, like he and Chad are discussing the new tourney drills Coach wants to try once school starts up again.
“Oh Ben, that’s wonderful!” Audrey squeals, her excitement radiating her face.
Of course, Audrey would take Ben’s side in this. Her mom has been begging the council to release the children of the Isle from the moment Auradon became aware of their existence. Mom’s the same way, so desperate to free the next generation of Tremaine children from her old stepmother’s control.
Chad can understand wanting to free the younger kids, but not the ones his age. They’ve been with their parents for too long and are too far gone to be saved. But Ben’s always seen the best in people, even when it just isn’t there. After all, he’s still friends with Chad.
“Right on! Dad’s been trying to convince the council for ages!” Jordan clasps Ben’s shoulders, shaking them excitedly as they both laugh.
Chad feels like he’s sinking deeper beneath the waves. Everyone’s voices fade into the background. Eight villainous children roaming the halls of Auradon Prep. Eight possible teenagers that could be the compass point on Chad’s wrist.
“I was actually hoping that some of you would consider being their roommates for the school semester. The council doesn’t want them grouped together unsupervised for too long.” Ben laughs nervously. “Of course, I wouldn’t ask you all to do something I haven’t agreed to myself.”
“I wouldn’t mind, although my grandmother might throw a fit when she finds out.” Audrey answers first.
Live with them? Alone, unsupervised with some of the Isle’s worst teenagers. Is Ben out of his mind?!
“Sounds like fun, count me in!” Aziz replies, as Kristian nods silently beside him.
“Which teens?” Macarius asks tensely.
“Fairy Godmother won’t place any one with the children of the villains who hurt their families. It’ll be clean slates for us all.” The room grows silent as Ben looks sheepish nonreply, answering the demi-god’s question.
“Ben, that’s not answer.” Lonnie chastises.
She places a hand atop Macarius’s shoulder, her soulmate visibly relaxing just from her touch alone. Chad can feel his heart constrict tightly as jealously grips him. How could Ben do this? Why would the council finally agree after all these years.
“As I said earlier, we’re pulling eight kids. I chose each of them myself because I felt they needed our help the most. That, and they would be the hardest to set back on the path of goodness. This way, when we rehabilitate them, there will be no doubt the others can be saved too.”
“Ben, who did you request?” Chad questions, his voice barely a whisper.
If Ben grabbed a Termaine after everything they put his mother through, well Chad wouldn’t be liable for strangling the crowned prince of Auradon.
“I asked for the children of Gaston, Ursala, Captain Hook, Cruella, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, Jafar, and Hades.”
The room erupts into chaos as Macarius and Audrey begin arguing about whether or not these teenagers should be treated like their parents. Aziz and Jordan celebrate the thought of finally meeting their fellow Agrabahian. Right, Chad sometimes forgets both their fathers have been begging for custody of Jafar’s son for years.
Chad feels his legs give out beneath him. Luckily Kristian’s quick reflects catches him before Chad can collapse onto the floor. His chest tightens as his breathing quickens. Chad’s whole body shakes as the arguments and cheering turn into a faded buzzing sound.
“Chad? You good?” Kristian asks as he lowers Chad onto the ground.
“Have you lost your mind, Ben?! They’ll kill us all before ever considering being good!”
Ben has no reply for that. He just stares down at Chad sadly. Aziz and Jordan exchange glances at one another, their shared excitement lessening with every passing moment. Audrey’s face is impassive, but Chad can see the disappointment her eyes burn with. Even Macarius looks shocked at Chad’s outburst.
Not one of his supposed friends are on his side. How could they forget the pain and suffering their parents went through so easily. No one jumps to support Chad’s claims. In fact, they stare at Chad like he’s the problem.
Now they’ll all see Chad for the monster he is. Once the children of the Isle arrive, it’s only a matter of time before the council sends them back. Chad just needs to ensure that when those monsters get sent back, he isn’t sent to the Isle with them.