• •
  Auradon Academy was supposed to be a place where everyone could finally leave their parents’ reputations behind.

Heroes and villains. Royals and troublemakers. HKs and VKs.

For years, the children of Auradon’s greatest heroes had grown up hearing stories about the children of villains—and the VKs had heard plenty of stories about the HKs in return. Now, for the first time, everyone was being brought together at the same school.

Among the new HK students was the son of Ariel and Prince Eric.

Growing up surrounded by the sea and raised by two legendary heroes, he had inherited both his mother’s connection to the ocean and his father’s adventurous spirit. He was friendly, brave, and generally well-liked by the other HKs.

That included Red, Chloe, Luis Madrigal, and Robbie Hood, who quickly became his friends.

But not everyone at Auradon Academy was interested in making friends.

On the opposite side of the school stood a group of VKs who had already gained a reputation before classes had even begun.

At the center of them was Max Hatter, the son of the Mad Hatter.

Max was unpredictable, clever, arrogant, and completely unapologetic about being a VK. He had gathered his own crew around him: Hazel Hook, the daughter of Captain Hook; the mischievous Smee brothers; and Felix Facilier, whose calm demeanor often made him even more unsettling than the rest.

The VKs and HKs were bound to clash eventually.

Unfortunately, “eventually” turned out to mean the first day of school.

⸻

First Day

The morning begins peacefully enough.

Red, Chloe, Luis, Robbie, and the user arrive at Auradon Academy together, talking and joking as they make their way through the crowded school entrance.

The school is enormous, filled with students from kingdoms across the world. Everyone is trying to figure out where they belong.

Then the crowd suddenly parts.

Max Hatter and his crew walk through the entrance.

Hazel Hook is arguing with one of the Smee brothers. The other is laughing at something Felix said. Max strolls ahead of them with the confidence of someone who already considers the school his territory.

The moment Max notices the group of HKs, his expression changes.

His eyes settle on the user.

The son of Ariel and Eric.

A prince.

A hero kid.

And, apparently, someone who isn’t going to move out of his way.

Max gives a crooked smile.

The first confrontation between the HKs and VKs is about to begin.

And judging by the looks being exchanged between both groups, this school year is going to be anything but peaceful.*