Author's Note: So in one of my other Descendant's stories, I used Cinderella in a darker tone of character to progress the story along. While I don't think it's too far out of character for the purposes of THAT story, I can't help but think that in the natural course of events in the movie and beyond, Cinderella might actually be quite level-headed, and far more upset with Chad and with his actions on Family Day. This story is a way for me to kind of clear the air and think about what might have happened after the movie ended.

It takes place just after the coronation, which is why Cinderella still isn't too familiar with the events and actions that occurred on Family Day. I think this works well as a one shot, but there is room for another chapter or two if people would like to read a little more. If you do, let me know in the comments or PM me, because I have been playing around with some ideas.

Please enjoy…

Fairy Godmother stood nervously at the top of the stairs that led up to school's front doors. Beside her were two royal guards which was standard protocol for all visits by royal heads of state. After a nerve-racking minute, she saw a black limo making its way up the road and into the circle drive in front of the school. Fairy Godmother's nerves took a different turn at the sight of the flags of Charmington waving at front of the car. Which one could it be, she thought, Charming or Cinderella, as visits over anything involving Chad and the school rarely had both of them stop by.

Once the car came to a stop, the guards made their way down to open the door for whichever of Chad's parents had decided to grace Auradon Prep with a visit.

As the door was opened, a clear, though Fairy Godmother knew not glass, high heeled shoe made its way out of the car, followed by a slim looking leg. And it's his mother, she thought. She started walking down the steps to meet the Queen of Charmington.

"Cindy, how are you?" Fairy Godmother asked happily as she and Cinderella hugged each other.

"I'm well," Cinderella responded.

"So, to what do I owe this visit?" Fairy Godmother asked, though she had a small idea what it might be about.

"Well, Chad called me, apparently there was some kind of incident at Family Day?" Fairy Godmother took in a deep breath, her suspicions confirmed, as well as not enjoying the memory of what happened. "Fairy Godmother?" she asked gently.

"Perhaps we should speak in my office," she told the concerned parent.

Once they were in Fairy Godmother's office, Fairy Godmother took a deep breath and stared back at Chad's mother. "So Cindy, before I explain what happened, it might be best if you tell me what you heard."

Cinderella leaned back in her chair and collected her thoughts.

"Chad tells me it all started with an incident involving Maleficent's daughter and Queen Leah. Apparently Maleficent's daughter…"

"The young girl's name is Mal," Fairy Godmother politely interrupted.

"Thank you. Apparently Mal went after Queen Leah during the reception, and she and the Evil Queen's daughter, whose name I did catch; I believe he said it was Evie?"

Fairy Godmother nodded.

"Mal and Evie then confronted him when he came to Queen Leah's defense and used a spell to put him into a coma only you could pull him out of."

I am going to kill Chad Charming, Fairy Godmother thought after hearing what had just come from Cinderella. No, I'll do worse, I'll turn him into a toad, she further mused in her outrage. "Chad told you all that?"

"Most of it. Some it I had to piece together since Audrey was screaming her own version of events in the background and it was making it difficult to listen. But I'm guessing from you're expression that that I heard things a little incorrectly?"

Fairy Godmother hadn't realized that she was even showing an expression. Though, it shouldn't be unheard of her since she basically heard a story meant to make Chad look like both the victim and the hero all at once.

"There was an incident, he got that much right. The rest of what he told you, well…," Fairy Godmother trailed off, feeling the weight of the awkwardness overtaking her.

"I would really appreciate it if you gave me the truth, Fairy Godmother," Cinderella implored her. "After all, good or bad, I'd rather hear it from you since you're practically family."

Fairy Godmother felt herself become just a little more calm at that statement. She was still nervous, but not as much as the second before. Cinderella was right. Ever since that night she'd appeared to help the young girl to help her after her step-mother and step-sisters had destroyed her hopes for the ball, she'd often looked in on her. She watched her go from a sweet and caring young woman to the fair and respected Queen before her today.

As the years went by, and they both became mothers, there was a depending of that relationship. And because of that relationship, she knew she couldn't sugarcoat the truth.

"There was a confrontation between Queen Leah and Maleficent's daughter, Mal," Fairy Godmother began, her voice becoming serious. "Unfortunately, and it amazes me that I have to say this, but Queen Leah instigated it."

Cinderella's eyes became wide at that news. "Are you certain?"

Fairy Godmother nodded.

"Ben was with his father and one of Mal's friends, Jay, playing croquet. Belle, surprisingly, or not, now that I think about it," she laughed at the thought, "was talking with Evie. And if their body language was anything to go on, they were talking about hair and make-up."

"That sounds like Belle," Cinderella laughed.

Fairy Godmother smiled warmly at that. "Yes, well, while all that was going on, Mal was standing off on her own, lost in her own thoughts, or enjoying the scenery, I don't really know, but Queen Leah approached her to introduce herself."

"Did she know who Mal was when she went up to her?"

Fairy Godmother shook her head. "Leah told me she saw Mal standing alone and just wanted to speak with her, you know, say hello. Even Mal says those first few words were cordial. Then Audrey arrived, referenced what happened to them…"

"The hundred year sleep," Cinderella clarified.

"Yes, that. That's when Leah saw the resemblance between Mal and her mother, and actually assumed that Mal was Maleficent. Even after Ben tried to calm her down, it was clear she couldn't handle the confrontation. She began telling Mal about what her mother's curse had done to her, how it made her have to miss seeing Aurora grow up, and so on."

"That's terrible," Cinderella said. "Not that Queen Leah doesn't have a right to be angry, but that young girl had nothing to with any of that."

"Yet she still tried to apologize for it," Fairy Godmother revealed, an appreciative grin on her face at the thought. She remembered the look on Mal's face as she started to say she was sorry. There was real remorse, real empathy – a real sense of wanting to try and atone for something that wasn't even her fault in the slightest. But that moment wouldn't be allowed to happen thanks to one person.

"However, that's where Chad comes into play," Fairy Godmother continued. At that statement Cinderella sat up straighter, her complete attention ready for whatever was about to be said. "Just as Mal was starting to apologize, Chad stepped in, cut Mal off, and that's when the problems began. Chad told Mal to stay away from Queen Leah, and then went off on this tirade about the Villain Children, saying how because of how their parents raised them that they knew nothing of kindness or fair play."

Cinderella gripped the bridge of her nose in an effort to not lose control at what she'd just been told. Fairy Godmother wanted to stop there, but she knew she needed to continue. After all, Cinderella had asked for the whole story.

"He then accused Mal of stealing Ben away from Audrey," Fairy Godmother continued.

"A mother could only hope for that to happen," Cinderella said without thinking. Unlike most, Cinderella was one of a few people who were able to see past Audrey's carefully acted prim and proper exterior and realize what kind of superficial, stuck-up teenage brat was underneath. She only hoped that Chad saw past it eventually and moved on to kinder, more emotionally mature girls.

"Yes well…," Fairy Godmother continued awkwardly, "…moving on. He then accused Mal's friend Jay of getting enjoyment from hurting people. And then he moved on to Evie, who in my opinion, got the worst of his ire."

"Oh God," she muttered, mentally preparing herself for the news.

"He proclaimed her, and in a tone that I can only describe as purely disdainful, and I'm quoting here, 'nothing but a gold digger and a cheater'."

Cinderella began to rub her forehead with her right hand while letting out a loud groan. What kind of person is my son, she thought. "I didn't know he could be that cruel," she said, her voice wavering as she fought back tears at the thought of her son, her baby boy, acting like…well she couldn't decide between Anastasia or Drizella.

"Unfortunately, I'm not finished, it gets worse," Fairy Godmother said gently, but conveying how serious the next part would be.

"How could it get worse?" Cinderella asked, already sounding close to heartbroken.

"Evie has a small piece of her mother's magic mirror. While not as powerful as the whole mirror, her piece can answer questions posed to it. And I want you to remember, while it may harness dark magic, the mirror does not lie. After Chad's insult she asked it who the biggest jerk in the land was, and…Chad's face appeared. Not believing it, he proceeded to slap away her arm."

"He…he put his hands on a girl?"

Fairy Godmother nodded sadly. "With enough force to knock her off balance. Jay stepped in to defend her, they started pushing at each other, and, I'm assuming to break them apart, Evie did spray him with some kind of sleep potion, though it wore off thirty seconds later on its own."

Fairy Godmother paused and let Cinderella absorb the news. She could see it in her friend's face, she was far different now than when she first arrived. Gone was the happy, glowing face of the woman who always tried to see the bright side of things, replaced by a woman who was trying to process the shocking revelations about a person she thought she knew everything about. Finally after a moment she spoke.

"I won't say much about the confrontation with…Jay, was it?" Fairy Godmother nodded. "After all, if someone treated a girl like that in front of him, I would hope that Chad would come to her defense as well. But, there is no defense I can say to justify him forcefully putting his hands on a girl, no matter what she'd said or done. Please tell me he was punished."

"Not yet," Fairy Godmother said with a shake of her head. Cinderella just looked at her in disbelief. "I was actually just about to call you and Charming to discuss the incident as well as the consequences."

"Whatever punishments need to happen here at school, I'll leave that entirely to you," Cinderella told Fairy Godmother. "I'll make sure Charming agrees with it and that Chad abides by it."

"Thank you," Fairy Godmother said softly. "I'm assuming then that you and Charming will be handling any additional consequences?"

"Most definitely," Cinderella answered, her voice flat, but with a resolve that made Fairy Godmother glad she was not Chad Charming.