Chapter Text
The screen once again faded to black and everyone turned to look at Azure.
“I said I would allow you all to get up and stretch, and process what you saw. I will give you twenty minutes.” He said before disappearing.
Despite the offer, no one made a move to do so. Most were too stunned to speak or stand.
“You know, I’m glad he gave us a break. There’s a few things I need to know.” Ben stated before looking at Doug. “First off, why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Say anything about what?” The half dwarf tried, attempting to play it off.
“Don’t even try that. You know what I’m talking about.” Ben stated. “We’re best friends, Doug. We told each other everything. Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
“I want to know too.” Lonnie agreed.
“Me three.” Jane said.
Doug sighed, scratching the back of his neck, before looking at the black screen, refusing to look at anyone.
“Because I,” He trailed off freeing his arm from Evie’s grasp and hugging himself. “I don’t know.” He said honestly.
“You trust us, don’t you?” Lonnie asked, sad that her friend thought and felt he couldn’t talk to her.
“Of course, I do.” Doug assured getting up and turning around, but looking at the ground. “It’s just that, I was a toddler. A toddler. To you tell the truth, I-I forgot about that. It was so long ago and I was only three years old. I just thought it was a bad dream.”
“I’m not talking about that.” Ben frowned. “I’m talking about the whole ‘controlling and manipulating’ you because you’re Dopey’s son. I know you get really, really self-conscious when someone mentions your dad, but you never said it was like that. Doug, NO ONE has any right to use your dad as an excuse to judge, criticize, control, or bully you. Your dad is a great man and so are you! Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Doug didn't respond, still looking at the ground.
"Why?"
Still no answer.
“Why?!”
“Ben, enough.” Jay warned.
“WHY, DOUG?!” Ben snapped.
“ARE YOU REALLY THAT SURPRISED?!” The band nerd snapped back.
Ben flinched at his outburst while the VK’s frowned at him in annoyance and everyone else looked at Doug in surprise, who was trying to keep his anger in and failing to not let any tears fall.
“Look who you’re talking to, Ben and remind yourself who’s my dad again!” He yelled holding back a sob. “Also remind yourself what my dad is known as! For crying out loud, his name is literally Dopey! Everyone assumes or just thinks of him as a complete and irresponsible dumbass! Even in the story of the Seven Dwarves and Snow White, he’s labeled as an idiot!”
“That’s because he is.” Audrey scoffed quietly.
Not quietly enough.
“AUDREY ROSE!” Her parents snapped making her whimper and cower in fear.
Whatever restraint Doug had before faded as he choked out a sob and his tears started falling. Jay and Carlos were glaring at Audrey while Mal, Lonnie, and Jane were glaring at Ben who had the decency to look ashamed of himself. Evie was about to move to Doug’s side but stopped when she saw Snow White go instead, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Everyone else were too stunned to do anything.
“That right there is exactly why I never said say anything.” He pointed at Audrey glaring. “It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else does or says, no one will believe it. That’s all I’ve heard and dealt with all my life. How Dopey is just a clumsy, clueless, immature, childish, irresponsible clown. When people find out he’s my freaking father, they either assume I’m the same way, or feel bad and pity me because I’m his son, or….”
“O-Or what?” Elena asked nervously.
Doug felt his aunt squeeze his shoulders in support before he replied.
“Or they burst out laughing and questioning what mental woman would get with Dopey in the first place, least of all give him a kid.” He said looking down.
“Someone’s done that before?” Kat asked in shock.
Doug took in a deep breath but nodded anyway. Luckily for him, his head was down, so he didn’t see the looks of rage that crossed over the crowd.
“That doesn’t explain why you never told us.” Ben spoke up. “We’re your friends, Doug. If you had trouble with stuff like that, why didn’t you tell us? We could’ve helped.”
“How Ben?!” Doug snapped, getting frustrated with the prince’s cluelessness. “Your parents are the king and queen of Auradon, and your mom’s pretty much the smartest woman in the whole kingdom!”
Belle couldn’t help but smile at the compliment.
Doug pointed at Lonnie.
“Lonnie’s mom is Mulan remember? She’s a legend!”
Mulan blushed and smiled.
“As for Jane,” He glanced at her. “do I even need to say it?”
Said girl looked down while F.G. put a hand on her shoulder.
“I get where you’re coming from, Ben.” Doug sighed looking at his feet. “Believe me I do, and I appreciate it immensely. I-I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or rude, but even if I did, how could you have helped when you don’t know what it’s like?”
“How what’s like?” Ben asked nervously.
“To be judged, criticized, or mistreated because of who your parent is, what they’ve done, or what they’re known for.” Carlos replied cutting Doug off.
Everyone quickly turned to him and the other VK’s. Some looking at them with frowns, some apologetically, and a few with glares (*cough* Leah, Audrey, Chad, and Ferdinand *cough*). Doug himself looking at Carlos surprised, shocked he was supporting him.
“Don’t look at us like that.” Jay scoffed glaring at the crowd. “That’s how pretty much everyone in this damn kingdom and school has treated us ever since we got here.”
“Not to mention that’s the reason why we’re in this damn mess in the first place.” Mal growled glaring at Leah and Audrey specifically both of whom looked away as their family also glared at them.
“Oh, then what makes Doug so special?” Chad scoffed.
The VK’s and Snow White glared at him while Doug flinched.
“Because unlike you and everyone else, Doug’s the only one other than Ben who’s been nice and helpful to us from the start.” Evie scoffed back.
“Sure seemed helpful when he just stood there watching and did nothing to help you before.” He smirked.
“CHAD!” The VK’s, AK’s, and Chad’s parents yelled while Doug gasped.
Nervously, Evie turned to Doug and her heart dropped at the look of terror and panic on his face, his hands shaking. He caught her gaze and quickly turned his whole body the other way, scared to look at her while Snow White tried comforting him by whispering something in his ear.
She’d be lying if she said she still wasn’t hurt or more than a little mad that he didn’t say something or step up for either her or the others before. She still should be, but she couldn’t bring herself stay that mad at him for long. He was confused and did what he thought was right. And to be completely honest, if the roles were reversed, she would’ve done the same thing. Evie was hoping she could get him alone so they could talk, but now. It seems she might never get her chance and will have to wait a little longer.
“Why do you always have to be such an asshole?!” Lonnie yelled. “Doug’s just had to relive a traumatic childhood event! You had no right to make him feel worse!”
Chad rolled his eyes. “It’s not my fault he’s an overdramatic spineless dork.”
Lonnie’s eyes flared as she quicky stomped toward the arrogant prince. She was about to punch him but was stopped by Jay grabbing her arms, the tourney player struggling to keep her still.
“Jay I swear, if you care about your safety, you’ll let me go right now!” She growled.
Said boy silently prayed no one saw him flinch and gulp as he kept his grip on her.
“That’s ENOUGH!” Cinderella shouted making everyone (Doug included) jump again and look at her with wide eyes while Chad gulped in fear.
His mother stood up and faced him, looking at him with more fury and disappointment he had ever seen, and it scared him.
“I don’t how or what made you be like this. Your father and I did not raise you to be this stuck-up, spoiled, narcissistic jerk who thinks he can mistreat people just because you’re a prince. I couldn’t be more disappointed or ashamed.” She took a breath. “You’re lucky we’re still stuck here and have to watch more of Douglas’s life. Until we’re done and get back home, you WILL NOT insult ANYONE here. You WILL keep your mouth shut, and we WILL be having a conversation after this. Understand?”
Chad nodded reluctantly. Cinderella nodded back before pointing at Chad’s seat, the blonde teen walking to it and sitting down while many others laughed or smirked.
Lonnie scoffed at the sight, roughly shrugging Jay’s arms off her (ignoring the blush on her face at that) and sitting with her parents, Shang shaking his head laughing while Mulan looked at her proudly.
“You know, if that’s how you and other people have treated Doug for so long, it’s no wonder he didn’t know what to do.” Mal glared at Chad.
“And it’s no wonder he wanted to be friends with us.” Carlos glared gesturing himself and the others.
Most were taken back and looked to him confused.
“What does that mean?” Ben frowned.
“It means you can’t understand what he went through, Ben. We can.” Evie snapped, tired of the prince’s denseness.
Ben flinched at her tone.
“And no offense Ben, but it’s pretty selfish and inconsiderate for you get so pissed off because someone didn’t tell you something they weren’t comfortable with or ever intended to mention.” Elena spoke up.
Ben glared at her.
“Excuse me? He’s my best friend, how am I being selfish?” He asked scoffing.
“Just because he’s your best friend doesn’t mean he has to tell you everything.” Kat responded. “Everyone has their privacy, and has a right to keep secrets. I’m pretty sure Mal has secrets she’s hiding, would you yell at her too?”
“Of course I,” Ben started before trailing off as he realized how he was sounding before sighing. “of course I wouldn’t.”
“Because you know what she would do to you if you tried.” Carlos smirked as Jay started laughing and Mal grinned.
“If I didn’t know any better, Ben, I’d think you were jealous of Doug for how quick he became our friend.” Evie glared at him.
“What?!” He glared back at her. “No I’m not!”
“Oh please, you just proved it right now!” Evie scoffed. “as soon as I said that the other VK’s and myself are the only ones who could understand Doug, you got pissed and offended. Not to mention how you failed to understand why he didn’t want to mention anything about his childhood, and instead you started berating and scolding him. If you were really his best friend, you would be more understanding.”
Ben was about to argue again, but stopped when he realized she was right.
“Damn Evie, protective over your boyfriend much?” Jay teased.
“He’s/I’m not my/her boyfriend!” Evie and Doug yelled simultaneously, making them look at each other in surprise, before looking away blushing.
“Hah, don’t even try and deny it!” Mal laughed.
“But he’s/I’m not!” They yelled again before looking at each other again and frowning.
“Oh please, it’s actually really painful how obvious you two are.” Carlos sighed in fake annoyance.
Both Evie and Doug were about to retort but Ben cut them off.
“Alright, as much as I love hearing and seeing how much you two love each other,” He held back a smirk at their indignant responses. “Evie, Kat, and Elena were right. I shouldn’t have been mad at you or yelled at you for not telling me. You’re my best friend, Doug and I should respect your privacy. I’m … I’m sorry.”
Doug was about to respond but Leah cut him off.
“No more talking! PLEASE!” She begged frustratingly. “It’s bad enough that we’re forced to stay here against our will for who knows how long, but we are also forced to watch the life story of an insignificantly meaningless dwarf’s son who isn’t relevant whatsoever! We should not prolong this torment by wasting our time talking!”
“SHUT UP!” Doug yelled making everyone jump again and look at him silently. Leah just scoffed and frowned at him. He glared at her furiously, his body shaking in anger. “IN CASE YOU FORGOT YOUR MAJESTY, I’M STANDING RIGHT HERE AND I CAN HEAR YOU! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THAT YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK ABOUT MY FATHER OR ME FOR THAT MATTER, LIKE THAT?!”
Leah flinched and was taken back by his outburst, looking at him with a blank face. Everyone else was just stunned.
“You think this is painful for you? You think this is “torment” for you? You think this is BAD ENOUGH for you?! Well imagine how I feel?!” Doug snapped, tears falling off his face.
Leah didn’t say anything, only looking at the ground as everyone once again glared at her.
“IT’S NOT YOUR LIFE THAT EVERYONE’S BEING FORCED TO WATCH, IT’S MINE! You think I want this?! You think I’m happy about this?! Well news flash, Leah, I’M NOT!” Doug pants as he closes his eyes and looks down, not caring about his tears falling.
Leah’s head shot up as she glared and went to criticize him for how he addressed her, but Aurora and Snow White’s glares kept her quiet.
“You think I want everyone to see my life, to see what I went through growing up? You think I wanted anyone to see that?” He gestures to the screen. “It might surprise you, but I myself never wanted to see that happen again! It was painful and traumatizing enough when it happened!” He looks down as his voice gets quieter. “Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could forget about it…..”
The AK’s and VK’s heads snapped toward him at that, Ben frowning. So he did remember it.
“To this day, I s-still have the n-nightmares.” Doug admitted.
“Nightmares?!” Snow White and his friends thought incredulously.
“The point is, I’m not happy about this, I never asked or wanted this. Like I said earlier, I NEVER wanted anyone to know what I went through or that, that had happened to me. Especially not my friends.” He gestured to the AKs and VKs. “I don’t want to be here anymore than you do, Leah. But unfortunately until we see everything that Lord Azure wants us to, we’re stuck here. If all you’re ever gonna say is something negative about ANYTHING or ANYONE then do us all a favor and just keep your mouth shut.”
Almost everyone struggled not laugh at Leah’s indignant expression as she was left dumbfounded and outraged by Doug’s rant.
The boy in question took a deep breath and looked down, trying to get a grip on himself and to stop crying in front of everyone. He went to say something again, but he closed his mouth as Snow White put her hand on his shoulder and stepped in front of him.
“I believe that is enough questions. As you can see, Doug’s already struggling to make it through this as it is and I know him FAR too well to know that these questions and comments” She glares at Leah dangerously. “are not helping him feel any better about this situation. I suggest not asking him any further personal questions, insulting his family, or him in general for the rest of this experience.” Her glare at Leah deepens. “I do not care who you are, what you think about this and especially not about Doug, or if you’re too entitled and arrogant to swallow you’re pride even a little while. I will not just stand or sit here and let my nephew get verbally assaulted like that and not stand up for him. Is everyone okay with that?”
Everyone nodded their heads, Ben, Lonnie, and Jane were upset about not being able to ask Doug a few more questions but they didn’t want to make him nor Snow White more angry or upset so they kept their mouths shut. Aurora and Phillip were giving Leah and Audrey death glares as everyone sat back down, daring them to speak again.
“Before Lord Azure returns, there is one thing I want to ask.” Mal spoke up getting everyone’s attention. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, there’s something I would like to know. Would you mind?”
Doug sighed but nodded for her to continue.
Mal took a deep breath. “Considering your reaction and emotional response to that memory, I assume that’s not the first time?”
Doug looked at his feet, debating whether or not to respond, but reluctantly nodded.
Mal took another deep breath. “I just want to know, how many times did they yell at you for mining?”
Doug was silent for a while but eventually responded, albeit very quietly.
“Every. single. time.” He admitted. "That's the reason why I don't like mining."
Mal sucked in a deep breath and glared as she leaned back in her seat, the other VK’s and AK's feeling the same way. Snow White wrapped her arm around his shoulders and hugged him to her side.
“You and I will be having a talk when we get back.” She whispered in his ear. He just sighed and nodded his head.
A bright blue flash occurred and Azure reappeared. He looks at everyone and nods his head.
“Shall we continue?” He asked. The silence told him everything. “Very well. For this next viewing, I will be showing two memories as one as they are both very similar and related. A fair warning before I do, this will be quite emotional and sad I guess you could say, but it is very important.”
Many looked at him in curiousity or with frowns.
“Gggrrreeeaaattt, as if the one you just showed wasn’t painful enough.” Doug thought.
“Also, you will have watch a few memories before I let you have another break. With that said, here we go” Azure said waving his hand.
Everyone looked at the screen as the lights faded and the screen started playing.