Life was so much simpler on the Isle, when my only tough decision was what to steal for breakfast.

Ben’s picturesque palace was built from gleaming white masonry and sat perched on a noble hilltop overlooking the rocky bay. It featured round turrets, tall regal spires, and a wide rampart that encircled the entire property. The countless palace wings included an armory, a stable, a formal conference room, a ballroom, a carriage house, and, because he was such a thoughtful son, suites for both of his parents.

Belle’s parlor was painted a sunny buttercup yellow with white trim. The cheery room was filled with cushy floral couches, fresh flower arrangements, and a baby grand piano. King Ben and Mal stood in the parlor and huddled urgently with Belle, Beast, and Fairy Godmother. The tension in the air was thick.

“I think we all know why we’re here,” said Beast, his bushy brows furrowed behind his black-framed glasses. “The people are in a panic about Hades. He almost got out.”

Fairy Godmother spoke up with concern. “Who knows what he would have done if he escaped?” She tsked, imagining the horrid repercussions.

Beast, once the king himself, narrowed his eyes and stated his true feelings with authority. “We can’t risk having another villain escape.”

Everyone agreed, but no one had a solution.

Mal pursed her lips. “I really feel like it’s my fault. I’m supposed to protect Auradon,” she said. She crossed her arms against her violet wrap dress and looked down at the floor.

“You did—you do—protect Auradon,” Ben said, giving Mal his full support. Mal was not to blame.

Beast shook his head, taking any thought of responsibility off Mal and placing it firmly on the impenetrable barrier—or rather on its numerous recent openings. “Every time we open the barrier, we’re exposed to danger.” He shuddered at the sentiment and listed the vicious villains who’d cleverly escaped the Isle. “Maleficent. Uma. Hades.” This was why he’d created the Isle and its barrier in the first place: to keep their enemies out.

Beeeeeep! Ben’s cell phone sounded its high-pitched alert. Ben took his phone from his blue suit pocket, checked his message, and stepped back in shock. His eyes narrowed as he reread the text. As if the day could get any worse…

“Maleficent’s scepter and the queen’s crown have been stolen,” he said with dread.

Everyone else in the room gasped in unison.

“Uma,” roared Beast, shaking his sizable fist in the air.

The group exchanged fearful glances at the fateful thought.

Stressed, Ben ran his hands through his sandy-brown hair. “We don’t know that, Dad.” But even he wasn’t convinced as he said it.

Belle crossed to Beast and grabbed his arm. “When people hear this, they’ll never come out of their houses!” she exclaimed, and looked out at the kingdom through the large bay window. “What do we tell them?”

The sun shone through the gauzy curtain, but the mood inside the room was dark and somber. These were troubling times. The room fell silent, and Auradon’s leaders contemplated all the horrific events of the past twenty-four hours.

Belle, Beast, and Fairy Godmother looked to Mal for guidance. With utmost respect and reverence, Belle asked, “Mal, what do we do? How do we keep evil out of Auradon?” Her dread was palpable.

Mal felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on her. The words she had to say were troublesome. She struggled to get them out, knowing they would change the course of Auradon forever. “I think that there’s only one way to guarantee their safety. And I think that there can’t be any more in and out.” She hesitated, then uttered the words she never thought she’d hear herself say. “I think that we have to close the barrier forever.”

Silence filled the room. But slowly, Beast, Belle, and Fairy Godmother nodded in agreement.

“No,” howled Ben, refusing to accept the drastic measure.

“Son,” said Beast empathetically.

“No,” repeated Ben. Disheartened and discouraged, he walked to the other side of the room. His soul felt crushed. There had to be another way.

“Ben,” Mal called after him.

“No, no, no, no, no,” said the king. He refused to give up on the kids of the Isle.

Mal ran after Ben. “I do not want to take away your dream,” she said painfully. After all, it had been her dream, too, to bring all the inculpable Isle kids to Auradon and give them a fresh start. But at what cost? “Because it was so beautiful. And it’s why I fell in love with you.” She looked Ben in the eye, took both of his hands in hers, and grappled with what to do. She was new to this governing thing and found it terribly difficult to work out. “But as king and queen, what’s our duty?” Mal asked, already knowing the answer.

Ben’s voice caught in his throat. “To protect Auradon.” He shook his head with uncertainty and took Mal’s hand gently in his own. This went beyond anything he’d ever expected to ask of Mal. “Do you know what this would mean? All those kids. Are you prepared for it?”

Mal’s green eyes filled with tears. “I know what it means,” she said, looking at Ben in defeat. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly? Hadn’t it been just the day before when they were welcoming the second wave of Isle transfer students? “And no, I’m not prepared for it. I just think that we have no other choice.” There was no way to open the barrier and bring Isle kids over without risking a villain breakout. So from that point forward, children of the Isle would stay condemned to the Isle. The thought brought a lump to her throat.

Beast, Belle, and Fairy Godmother listened and somberly considered the grim solution. Beast turned toward Ben. “Son, Mal’s right,” he said.

“I just don’t think that we’d forgive ourselves if something happened,” said Mal. She walked back toward the others and tugged at the dragon-and-heart pendant around her neck. She knew the true evil nature of many of the Isle’s villains and imagined the worst. This was the only way she could completely protect Auradon and its people from harm.

Ben stared out the window solemnly, shook his head grimly, and with deep heartbreak let his dream of a united Auradon and Isle die.