๐ต: SZA, Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Conan Gray, Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Tems, Billie Eilish, Laufey, Daniel Caesar, BTS, Show Dem Camp, Hozier
๐ฌ: La La Land, Encanto, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Dark Knight (Ltbxd top 4)
๐ฉท: art,aesthetics, anime, books, comic books/webtoons,crime & forensics, tech, DIY, dance, movies, fashion, food, general knowledge, names, shoes, nails, hair, makeup, celebs, pop culture, music, Kpop, K dramas, sports, astronomy, the moon, photography, poetry, dark academia, Greek mythology, travelling, rocks.
My first work๐คญ:
Two girls, one mission, a magical trip to the past.....
Red, daughter of The Queen of Hearts; the unknown ultimate wildcard.
Chloe, daughter of Cinderella and King Charming; the epitome of a perfect princess.
Tragedy strikes during the Welcome Ceremony at their new school, and as fate would have it, these polar opposite princesses find themselves wrapped up in an insane adventure to the past. They'll have to meet the teenage versions of their parents and stop an evil scheme from being executed, all while uncovering secrets that could change everything they've known to be true all their lives.
{A re-imagined version of Descendants: Rise of Red. A work of fiction by @pocketfullofpearlies. All characters are fictional. ยฉ 2024}
(Descendants: Rise of Red Fan-Fiction/ Reimagining)
Ella Fairmont-Tremaine
Before she became the most fashionable queen in all of Auradon, Ella was a regular girl with a keen eye for design and a raw talent for sewing and embroidery. She values simplicity and authenticity in her wardrobe, preferring her handmade clothes and intricate patterns to anything high end, but that doesn't mean she'll turn down a fancy outfit that suits her style. Truth is, even when she's dressed down, she's still the most chic girl in the room.
(P.S: All images were gotten from Pinterest and are NOT MINE!!)
(Descendants: Rise of Red Fan-Fiction/ Reimagining)
Princess Red of Wonderland
Red, when she's not bound by her mum's strict fashion rules, is an alternative baddie...if an alternative baddie was the princess of a magical kingdom. Her style is a combination of edgy and whimsical, pairing items like delicate lacy tights with heavy, studded boots..and most of it is hand-cut, stitched or glued right before she heads out the door. She expresses what she feels on her clothes and is never shy to make statements as bold as her personality.
(P.S: all images are gotten from Pinterest and are NOT MINE!!)
(Descendants: Rise of Red Fan-Fiction/ Reimagining)
Princess Chloe Charmant
Chloe is the quintessential modern-day princess, with a preppy yet glamorous style all of Auradon is obsessed with. The daughter of Cinderella, the most fashionable queen on the scene, you could say style is in her genes (lol). Her makeup is always done, hair is always laid and her outfits make it to the front of every magazine cover. She's a combination of poised and playful that's reflected in everything she wears, and is already a fashion icon in her own right.
hiii guys! I posted Chloe first bc she got the most votes in the poll I put up. I also decided to add style inspo for the characters as well; basically how they dress in the world of the story.
Hope you like Chloe, and look out for the other character faceclaims dropping soon๐ฉท.
P.S: All images are gotten from Pinterest and are NOT MINE!
hiii y'all! I'm under the weather rn, so it'll be a bit till I can upload the next few chapters...but, I have been wanting to share the face claims/fan cast for the characters, so I'll be doing that for the time being๐คญ
Faye recited the spell over and over again in an attempt to get the flowers she was trying to make bloom to last for more than 3 seconds.
She sighed in frustration and kicked at the dirt, specks of soil scattering all over the front of her purple loafers.
โFaye!โ someone called from behind her. โHey, Faye!โ
She turned and saw Red walking towards her.
โOh, hi, Scarlett,โ she said, her tone stiff.
She didnโt need distractions right now.
โLook, can we talk?โ
โNot right now, okay? Iโm a bit busy.โ
Red frowned. โDoing what? Killing flowers?โ
โI havenโt questioned you running off with Hook and his gang all this while, have I? So donโt question what I spend my time doing!โ Faye burst out, shocking Red.
The girl stared as Fayeโs expression broke down from anger into sadness and she sat on the bench near her with a heavy sigh.
โIโm terribly sorry, Scarlett. Iโm just stressed. Iโve been worried about my Advanced Spellcasting finals and a bunch of other stuff. And I have no right to judge you. You have the right to spend time with who you want.โ
โFaye, I get why youโre upset,โ Red said, sitting beside her. โIโve been bailing on you guys without explanation, and thatโs not cool.โ
โItโs fine. Thereโs nothing wrong with branching out and making new friends. I was justโฆscared.โ
โFor my safety?โ
โYes. But also becauseโฆwell, the other day, before we broke up, Antoine told me he saw something in his crystal ball. Something badโs gonna happen to Bridget.โ
Red wetted her lips which had grown dry and readied herself to speak.
She had not expected to hear that at all.
โI think I might know what he saw.โ
โWhat? How?โ
โThatโs actually what I wanted to tell you; I overheard Uliana and Mirana talking. Theyโre planning to hurt her at Prince Christopherโs ball using these magic flowers sheโs allergic to.โ
Faye cupped her mouth to hide her screech of shock.
She looked at Faye and her mind went back to the day of the Welcome Event, and the things her mum had said about the Fairy God mother.
At the time, Red had thought the wand-toting woman had been heartless and betrayed her mother, but now, here she was already in tears at just the news of what was being planned.
โWhy would they want to do that?
โUliana has had it in for my mu- I mean, Bridget, since the whole cupcake thing. And MiranaโฆI think she just hates her sister, I donโt know what caused it, but she does.โ
โThis is just awful,โ Faye said, shaking her head in despair.
Red eyed her cautiously. โYouโre not going to tell herโฆare you?โ
โGoodness, no! If she were to find out about thisโฆit would destroy her.โ
โDestroy? What do you mean?โ
โIโm guessing by now youโve noticed that Bridget is the kindest girl in this whole school. Her soul is so pure and innocent. If she knew her own blood was planning such evil against her, that purity and innocence will turn to hate and poison. Her heart would turn cold and the good in her would turn to evil, and who knows what might happen then?โ
Red felt chills and goosebumps spread under the sleeves she had on.
โI can only imagine,โ she said bleakly, knowing sheโd lived through the very things she was describing.
โAnd, I mean, I knew Mirana was a piece of work, but I never expected all this,โ Faye added, speaking more to herself than to Red.
โThatโs why I wanted to ask for your help.โ
โMy help?โ
Red nodded. โYou could transform the flowers before they touch herโฆ.right?โ
Faye looked down at her wand, the crystals embedded in it catching the sunlight. โI mean, I could. But that would take weeks of practice?โ
Now it was Redโs turn to look startled. โWeeks of practice to change a bunch of flowers?โ
โI have trouble holding my spells for a long time. It takes a lot of concentration andโฆ.Iโve been so distracted lately,โ she said.
Red thought of Maleficent, who cast her spells like there were second thoughts, even writing down each new combination she came up with in a small book she always carried with her. She thought of Wonderland, where magic was stitched into everyday lifeโฆ.at times, literally.
โMaybe your problem is that youโre too in your head. Whatโs been bothering you?โ She paused and touched Fayeโs shoulder gently. โWait, did you say you broke up with Antoine?โ
โOh, yeahโฆthat.โ Faye shrugged and shook her hair back, but the sadness in her face was evident. โWe parted ways mutually. Itโs for the best.โ
โDoes it feel like the best?โ
โNo, butโฆ.โ
โFaye, I donโt know much about love, but I do know there shouldnโt be any โbutsโ involved. You love him, right?โ
โI do,โ she said, her voice small, but with no hesitation.
โThen thereโs your answer. You should speak to himโฆand at least come to terms that wonโt restrict your heart this way.โ
Such words felt oddly foreign leaving Redโs lips. She wasnโt exactly known for possessing great wisdom, nor was she used to encouraging others. It felt slightly uncomfortable, like an itch from an ill-fitting sweater, but just like those sort of sweaters brought warmth, it also made her feel good in a way.
Faye pondered on the advice for a bit and found herself nodding. โYou know what? You're right.โ
โOf course, I am,โ Red said, decidedly proud of herself.
If only Chesh could see her now.
She peered round carefully, pretty sure the mystical cat was hovering somewhere near them as he normally would, listening in on the conversation.
โSo now,โ she continued, โwhat you need to do is get out of your own head. Just relax and let the magic flow through you.โ
โLet the magic flow through me,โ Faye echoed.
โYeah, likeโฆwater or something, uh, flowy.โ
The fairy stood up and held out her wand, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a few seconds, she began casting her spell on the flowers again.
โBibbidi, bobbidi, boo!โ
When she opened her eyes, she saw that the flowers had bloomed beautifully, their petals sparkling as the shimmers from her wand settled on them.
She held her breath, expecting them to poof out of their now healthy state, but they stayed as they were.
โWha- Scarlett, it worked! I havenโt been able to cast a spell that holds well in such a long time; I just thought I needed more practice.โ
โSometimes, no practice is the most practice youโll ever get,โ Red said sagely.
She was on a roll today.
โSo youโll be able to change the flowers the day of the ball?โ
Faye raised her wand again. โBibbidi, bobbidi, boo!โ
The pretty purple hibiscus flowers she had conjured up transformed into dainty yellow tulips before them.
โSure can,โ the fairy answered her happily with a smile.
Red felt relieved as she stood from the bench as well, and then she remembered something.
Hook had told her that Merlin had a secret library where he kept special books and records, as well as detailed files on the students of the Academy. Heโd tried to find it several times, but failed to, and Red knew as soon as heโd mentioned it to her that it would contain the answers to the questions she had about both Iracebeth and Mirana.
โHey, Faye, now that Iโve helped you with your little magic problem, do you think you can help me with something? Other than this, I mean.โ
โGo ahead,โ Faye prompted her.
โIโd like to access Merlinโs secret library,โ Red whispered conspiratorially.
โHis library?โ
Red nodded. โThe secret one. I assume you know it because youโre always helping Merlin out, right?โ
โI mean, I do know it. Iโm just wondering what you want to find in it. Itโs also super off limits to students.โ
Red paused, her brain working quickly to come up with a lie.
โI just..uhโฆI wanted to umโฆuh..โ
She faltered off as she felt someone lightly adjust the hair covering her ear.
โTell her you want to find out about the flowers,โ Cheshire whipered softly, completely invisible to both of them, but audible enough for only Red to hear.
โThe flowers!โ Red said immediately. โI want to research the flowers that I overheard Uliana and Mirana talking about. I already checked the regular library, and all the books there just had surface level info. I heard through the berryvine that Merlinโs library would probably have the books I need.โ
She blinked innocently at Faye, hoping her lie was convincing enough.
โWellโฆI guess that makes sense.โ
โDoesnโt it?โ
Red exhaled a breath but covered it up with an awkward laugh.
Faye looked around and then leaned in, lowering her voice.
โLook, Iโm not sure I should be telling you this,โ she said tensely. โBut I feel like I can trust you with this information for some strange reason.โ
โYou can trust me, Faye.โ
The fairy nodded, and then lowered her voice even more. โItโs actually not as hidden as you think. Itโs near Merlinโs office, but itโs in this really small hallway between his office and another set of rooms; the ones with the pink flowers in the flowerpots. Once youโre able to squeeze through all the way, youโll find a a handle on the floorboards; knock on it twice and then pull it very fast to open it. Youโll have to go in when no one is around there, but Merlin has to be in his office. When he clocks out for the day, thereโs a magic spell over all his property, including the Library. Itโs very strong, and itโs meant to catch intruders andโฆwell..vaporize them. So you have to make sure youโre in and out before he leaves.โ
Red gulped. Just what she needed; another do-or-die mission.
โSounds easy enough. Thanks, Faye.โ
โThank you, Scarlett. Youโve saved me weeks of practice and helped me see I really need to reach out to Antoine.โ
โHappy to help.โ
She got up from the bench, leaving Faye, and as she walked away, Cheshire slowly appeared, floating on his back in front of her.
โShall we start discussions on how much you owe me?โ He purred, stretching out his striped limbs.
โI donโt have anything to give you right now, but thank you. You really saved my butt out there.โ
โWhat else is new?โ
โYโknow, you really could just tell me about my familyโs history yourself without all this hassle,โ Red said, giving Cheshire a pleading look.
โNope. Youโre meant to find out this way. Besides, the time-space continuum is already messed up as it is.โ
โWhat?โ
โAlthough I do enjoy chaosโฆโ
โOkay, point taken, Iโll go check out the secret, creepy library.โ
Hopefully, sheโd get the answers she was looking for.
โ---------------------------------------
Uliana closed her satchel and slung in across her body.
The hideout was dimly lit by moonlight seeping in through the windows and she headed for the door, only for a lamp to turn on behind her.
She paused, knowing she was supposed to be alone.
โWhere do you think youโre headed to?โ came Hookโs deep, accented voice.
Uliana rolled her eyes and turned around.
He was on the upper floor, perched on his hammock with a book open in his lap.
They hadnโt spoken since Uliana had told him about the plan and heโd laughed in her face.
โNone of your business,โ she hissed back at him.
Hook stood up from the hammock, dress simply in a limp white tanktop and loose, striped barrel pants, as well as what appeared to be soft slippers shaped like boots.
The rest of the school was asleep, and he was supposed to be in bed, but he liked sneaking off to the hideout to read without disturbances, and he got a lick out of breaking the rules.
He gripped the railing, hoisting himself up and over it to jump to the ground level where Uliana was.
The girl glared at him and he held her stare, his blue eyes still rimmed heavily with black liner even at that hour.
โDonโt tell me youโre actually going to go and get those flowers.โ
โFine, I wonโt.โ
She turned to continue walking away, but he held her back by the arm. โUliana!โ he all but yelled.
โLet go of me, Hook!โ
โNot till you get this stupid idea out of your head,โ he said, and then released her arm anyway.
โItโs not a stupid idea; itโs exactly what I need to teach that stupid Princess a lesson.โ
โI understand you want revenge, anโ Iโm all for it, but this plan is nothing but rotted fish. It doesnโt feel right.โ
Uliana folded her arms, which were clad in the three-quarter sleeves of the teal coloured top she was wearing as raised a brow. โHow so?โ
โHas it not occurred to you that this Mirana girl just wants you to do her dirty work? Sheโs playing you and making you think you thought it all up by yourself, so when crap hits the fan, youโll be the only one to blame.โ
โI told you already, any and all blame is going to fall on the decorators responsible for the Ball.โ
โOh yeah? You think old man Merlin wouldnโt want to know everything that comes in and out of his school? You think they wonโt have lists and records of their inventory and the flowers theyโre bringing? Itโs all going to lead back to you eventually.โ
โWell good! I want everyone to know it was me!โ Uliana burst out.
โAnd when the King and Queen of Wonderland want to bring the person who injured their daughter to justice, then what? Did you think about that?โ
Uliana squinted at him in anger. โYouโre supposed to be my first mate, Hook. Why canโt you just support me?โ
โI am your first mate, Uls,โ he replied, his expression softening. โAnd trust me, any other plan, Iโd be more than happy to carry out with you. But I canโt sit back and let you do this one.โ
โItโs because of the red head, right? Sheโs turned you against us. Against me.โ
โWhat? No! Donโt bring Scarlett into this, Uliana. This has nothing to do with her.โ
She rolled her eyes and moved in closer to him, getting all up in his face, the lamp light reflecting off her brown eyes, which were lit up with anger.
โWhy do you even care when youโre going to leave at the end of the semester anyways?โ she questioned pointing at his hammock where the book heโd been reading laid idly. โYouโre not even going to be here if crap does hit the fan, so whatโs even the point of stopping me?โ
Hook opened his mouth to speak, but silence was the only sound he made.
โShe made a fool of me, Hook,โ Uliana continued, her voice watery and emotional. โShe made me look weak. I AM NOT WEAK!โ
Her tentacles unfurled as she yelled, spreading out and knocking over a chair near where they stood.
โYouโre not,โ Hook agreed calmly. โBut you have to be rational about this. You have a lot to lose if this goes south. Youโre not your sister; she left everything she had and had to gain it all back for herself by paying in blood. You have to forge your own path.โ
โThatโs exactly what Iโm doing.โ
โIs it? Or are you just the executor of another villainโs schemes?โ
She gripped her satchel and took a breath, puffing up her chest.
โIโm leaving.โ
โHave you even killed someone before, Uli?โ
That stopped her in her tracks once more.
โHave you? Taken another personโs life? Watched it slip out of them, knowing you caused it? Because thatโs whatโs going to happen to that princess if sheโs exposed to the flowers for too long. Are you ready for that? To be up a creek without a boat?โ
Uliana stiffened and looked over her shoulder, her voice icy cold as she spoke. โGood thing I can breathe underwater.โ
And with that, she sauntered out of the hideout, leaving Hook standing there in the barely-lit darkness.
Characters in this Chap: Ella, Christopher(Charming), Red, Chloe
W.C: 2.7k
Ella sat down gently, placing her bag beside her on the grass.
Humming gently, she fished out a donut from her pocket and started breaking it into pieces, laying them out carefully on the napkin it had been wrapped with.
โPsps,โ she cooโd softly. โYou can come out now, my babies.โ
As if on command, a tubby little mouse, dressed in a mustard yellow shirt with a tiny blue cap on his head, stuck its nose out of a hole in the tree near her leg, sniffing away.
Ella giggled. โI see you, Gus-Gus. Allez (Come on).โ
She picked up one of the pieces and waved it around, making the small mouse wriggle its way out of the hole and run gingerly to her, nibbling the pastry from her fingers.
โAw..were you hungry, boy?โ
Gus-Gus seemed to pause and nod at her quickly before he continued eating.
Two other mice came out the hole, staring at Ella expectantly with their big, brown eyes.
โOh Jaq, Marie, come, come.โ
They came to her and she stroked their soft heads, adjusting their little outfits before they settled down to eat their pastry pieces.
Ella sighed contentedly, settling back against the tree with a book and an apple.
Her step-sisters where at a fitting for their gowns for Prince Christopherโs ball all day, which meant she was free all day, and that gave enough time to sleep in, and now come out to spend some time with her other friends there at Merlin Academy; the adorable field mice that lived in her favourite tree.
She enjoyed days like this, when she could just relax and not be filled with unnecessary anxiety from the twins. However, there was the underlying factor that the semester would soon be over and she would have to head back home with them. The thought of spending yet another vacation tending to them and their mother didnโt sound pleasant at all.
Maybe she could apply for a holiday position at the school?
She mused on this idea as she brought out her sewing kit from her bag, bringing out her latest project that needed some finishing.
โJaq,โ she told the mouse wearing a red jacket. โBe a dear and fetch me the light blue thread from my kit.โ
Jaq scurried into the kit and brought out the exact roll of thread Ella had asked for, undoing it as Gus-Gus grabbed a needle. Working together, they threaded it carefully as Ella smoothed out the section she wanted to work on.
โMerci beaucoup,โ she said, taking the already threaded needle.
She stitched away happily, singing as she did so, while the mice busied themselves with smaller bits of fabric she had laying around in her kit.
Time passed, and Ella was so engrossed with what she was doing that she didnโt even notice Prince Christopher approaching her.
When the Prince had gone looking for Ella, the last place he expected to find her was beside a tree on the school groundsโฆsinging to mice?
โBonjour,โ he said, announcing his presence.
The mice, not used to strangers, hurriedly scuffled back into their hole.
โWhoops, looks like I scared away your friends,โ he said in French.
Ella looked up at him and he took a deep breath. The sunlight bouncing off of her warm brown skin was an incredible sight; she seemed to glow from within. Her hair, bright and golden, was in two plaited pigtails, with several curly tendrils loose and he had to fight the urge to push away one that flopped over her forehead lazily. There was a light in her eyes that he had only seen a few times when she was laughing with her friends, and she seemed somewhat calmer today, a serene touch to her beauty and a soft curiosity in her eyes.
โWhat are you doing here?โ she asked in French as well, and he noticed how her lips looked shiny, but not glossy, like she had just finished eating something juicy.
โI was looking for you, actually. Your roommate said you might be here.โ
โYou went to my room?โ
โYeah, Iโฆ really wanted to see youโ
Ella felt her cheeks heat up. โOh?โ
Christopher smiled shyly and her heart skipped a beat.
He looked so handsome in his cream-coloured sweater, his dark hair tousled and loose. The soft breeze blowing wafted his scent to her nostrils, a classy yet comforting scent of vanilla and cedarwood that relaxed her system as she took it in.
Adjusting his sweater sleeves, he sat down facing Ella on the grass.
She immediately felt his body heat near her and his scent surrounded her even more, almost making her head spin.
โI wanted to talk to you,โ he continued and she bit back a smile. โAnd give you something.โ
โGive me something?โ
He stuck a hand into his pocket and pulled out what seemed to be a card made of stunning crystal glass that caught the sunlight and sparkled.
โWhatโs that?โ Ella asked, observing the sparkly object.
Christopher took one of her hands in his, ignoring the obvious jolt he felt to his nerves at the contact as he looked her in the eye.
โMiss Ella Fairmont-Tremaine, would you accompany me to the Wishes and Dreams Ball as my date?โ
He placed the card in her hand and she took it, seeing that her name had been etched into the crystal in pretty , silvery-white lettering.
โF-for me?โ she asked, her voice quiet.
โYes, for you.โ He smiled as he watched her examine the card.
His father had wanted to go for something dramatic and unique for the decorations, and when he had asked Christopherโs input, all the boy could think about were the crystal earrings heโd seen Ella wear from time to time.
โWhy would you want me as your date?โ
โWhat?โ His smile faltered and a small frown tented on his brows.
Ella shrugged. โIโm not a princess, Christopher. I havenโt even been to a ball since I was a toddler. Thatโsโฆ.not my world anymore.โ
โI donโt care about that, Ella.โ
She looked away from him and he gathered up courage to say what was on his mind.
โI asked you because I really like youโฆ.like, a lot. And Iโd like to spend time with you. We donโt even have to stay long at the Ball if you donโt want to.โ
She met his eyes again in shock. โBut your fatherโs throwing it in your honour.โ
โAnd heโll probably throw me a thousand more by the end of the year,โ he said matter-of-factly. โIโd like nothing more than to sneak off with you.โ
Ella blushed at his words and looked at the sparkly card again. โI donโt knowโฆโฆ.โ
โThatโs okay. Just think about it and let me know. Any decision you make at the end of the day is the right one.โ
His voice was soft and gentle, as if he could sense her festering anxiety, and it immediately put her at ease.
This was why she liked him so muchโฆor at least one of the reasons why.
She couldnโt fathom why he liked her back, but she was thrilled nonetheless.
โThank you, Charming.โ
โHey, you called me Charming!โ Sparks of excitement shone in his eyes and Ella laughed at his expression.
โDonโt get used to it. Itโs still very much debatable.โ
โYeah right,โ he muttered softly, finally reaching out and tucking that lone golden coil on her forehead behind her ears.
Her lips opened slightly as she took in a sharp breath at the contact and his eyes fell to them, gazing with longing, and then pulling back up with restraint.
He didnโt want their first kiss to be in some field behind the school. He would make it special for herโฆif that was what she wanted.
โHowโd you know my full name, anyway?โ Ella asked, oblivious to the wheels turning in his head.
โOh, uh, Merlin actually. Every student in school is supposed to have one of these to enter the ball. I just wanted to give you yours myself.โ
Ella nodded, and then heaved a sigh
"It used to be Fairmont-Bleu, you know," she said, her voice small. "My father's last name merged with my mother's. And our house...it used to be called Le Chateau Bleu, after her as well. I always thought that was incredibly sweet; having a home named after someone special."
"I'd name a house after you...I'd name a whole kingdom after you." Christopher said earnestly.
She rolled her eyes, smiling a little, but then her expression dimmed again.
"Lady Tremaine had her name added instead when she married my father. She insisted on it and he just wanted to make her happy. Now our house is simply Le Chateau Fairmont, and my name has hers attached to it."
"I'll have the invite changed if you like," Christopher said softly.
"It's fine. Thank you."
She gave him a genuine smile, one that made her brown eyes twinkle, and he felt his heart melt.
They stared at each other for a while, in a silence that wasn't even a little bit uncomfortable, till Christopher took a quick look at his watch and groaned.
"I'd love to stay, but I have to meet with some of the planners about a few things."
He stood up and beamed at her. Bending down slightly, he reached for one of her hands and pressed a soft kiss on it, his nose picking up on her scent that could only be described as smoky florals.
โIt was very nice seeing you again, Ella. Think about it, okay?โ he said one last time and she nodded.
Christopher stood up straight, smiled down at her again and then walked away.
The mice poked her heads out as soon as they sensed he had left and Ella laughed.
โYes, heโs gone. You can come out nowโ
She looked at her glass-cut invitation card again before putting it down.
There was still enough time to make up her mind concerning the Ball, but regardless, she had a good feeling about everything, and she wanted to savour that for as long as she could.
Red practically burst into the room, startling Chloe who had been sipping on a cup of tea.
โIs everything okay?โ she asked in alarm.
She watched as Red held up a finger, sitting on her bed and trying to steady her breathing.
Sheโd run all the way from the hideout to the dorms in her rush to tell Chloe what she had heard.
โRed! Is everything okay?โ
Chloe got up and joined her on the bed, holding a hand up against the girlโs forehead.
To her surprise, it was icy cold. How Wonderlandian.
โI heard something,โ Red said once sheโd calmed down enough to speak. โSomething super important.โ
โOut with it already!โ
โItโs Miranaโฆ.and Uliana. Theyโre both planning to kill my mum.โ
โWait, what?! So we were right to suspect Mirana, huh?โ
Red nodded. โMore than right. Uliana was already planning out her revenge when Mirana walked in and made her an offer. She told Uliana about this flower my mum is allergic to-โ
โ-Allergic? What kind of allergies?โ
โWonderlandian allergies,โ Red said, her tone somber. โIf the petals from that flower touch my mumโs skin, she gets rashes, and bleeds and then she loses consciousness.โ
โWhat in the world? No wonder your mum became so evil. Not only did they embarrass her; they hurt herโฆthey tortured her,โ Chloe said, echoing the word her own mum had used.
โWe have to stop them somehow.โ Redโs voice was firm. โMy future, your futureโฆ.all of Wonderland and Auradonโฆeverything rests on us putting an end to this. Thatโs why weโre here, Chloe. This is why the pocket-watch brought us back.โ
She choked on air, reality crashing into her like a tidal wave.
โCould you talk to Hook? Maybe he can do something.โ
โLike go against his closest friend here?โ
โIsnโt he a pirate? Donโt they betray people all the time?โ
โYou donโt know anything about him, Chloe. Next idea, please.โ
โOh, so Iโm the one whoโs just going to keep on pumping out ideas?โ
โIโm the one risking my safety being around people with murderous intentions.โ
โWell shouldnโt you be used to that by now? I mean, your mother-โ
Chloe stopped herself before she could say something hurtful, but Red was already glaring at her in anger.
โRed, I-โ
โJust think up another idea. We donโt have time for this.โ
As painful as it was, she couldnโt deny that her mother was a murderer. For years, sheโd watched her mother slay hundreds of people, especially on Heads and Hearts Day.
The streets of Wonderland were constantly red with the blood of innocent civilians and offenders alike.
Now was their chance to finally resolve all of this, not scrapple over details she disliked from her life.
โIโm really sorry, Red. I shouldnโt have,โ Chloe said, her tone remorseful as she nervously twirled a strand of her golden hair, feeling guilty.
Cruelty didnโt sit right in her system. It wasnโt something she was used toโฆand she didnโt want to become something she wasnโt.
โItโs fine. Letโs come up with something together.โ
Both girls sat in silence as they wracked their brains.
โI could bring it up to Hook, maybe say itโs a pointless planโฆthat Uliana will look dumb if she goes ahead with it,โ Red thought out loud. โBut she might not listen to him. Mirana really got in her head.โ
โSo Iโm guessing our focus needs to be on those flowers,โ came Chloe. โWhat are they anyway?โ
โMorta Lillies. Mirana said theyโre native to Wonderland, but Iโve never seen or heard of them before. Then Uliana said they could be found in the ocean as well. Ever heard of them?โ
Chloe thought back to her Horticultural Studies class back at her school in Cinderellasburg. They had gone over every kind of plant that could be found within the United States of Auradon and other regions of the world, but they had never done any on Wonderlandian plantsโฆand she was supposed to have started the course on Aquatic plants at Auradon Prep.
โNo,โ she said. โThey donโt ring any bells.โ
โWell, those are the ones theyโre planning to use. I donโt even know what they look like. But I could always ask around; do some research.โ
โI think you need to talk to Fairy Godmother,โ Chloe suggested.
โFaye? No way! Why would I do that? What if she gets suspicious about how I know their plan?โ
โThatโs easy enough. She already knows youโve been hanging out with Ulianaโs crew through Hook. Just tell her you overheard them talkingโฆwhich you did.โ
โWhatโs even the guarantee that sheโll agree to help now? My mum said she didnโt do a thing to help her back then; same with your mum.โ
โRed, hasnโt it occurred to you that they probably didnโt know any of this was going on? Same way we didnโt know till today. And right now, what we need is to stop this, right?โ
โRight,โ Red admitted.
โGood. So youโre going to tell Fairy Godmother what you overheard. Hopefully she can find a way to maybe change the flowers so they donโt hurt your mum.โ
โYou know, for an air-headed, softie Princess, you make a very firm leader,โ Red commented.
Chloe rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her lips. โAnd for a hot-headed, nasty Princess you really stepped up. I was scared youโd blow your cover, but you didnโt.โ
โBecause Iโm so good at lying?โ
โWellโฆyeah. But I mostly thought you wouldnโt take this seriously. There was also the underlying fear that youโd fall in love with Hook and sail away.โ
โWait, what?โ
Both girls burst into laughter, dissipating the tension that clouded over them just moments before.
โI just realized that all this is almost over,โ Chloe said when the laughter died down. โStill got the pocket watch?โ
โOh yeah.โ Red reached under her pillow and brought out the miniature machine, holding it gently.
Chloe looked down at it and gulped. โWhat if we fix this and nothing changes? What if we mess up the future even more instead?โ
Her questions hung in the air as she thought of her dad, her brother, and most especially her mum. There was always the possibility of a huge alteration in the past causing an even bigger alteration in the future.
Red took one more look at the pocket watch before stuffing it back under her pillow.
โWell, thatโs just a risk weโre gonna have to be brave enough to take.โ
Characters in this Chap: Red, Uliana, Maleficent, Hades, Morgie and Mirana
W.C: 2.1k
Red somehow found herself roped into Hookโs friend group. Unlike what Hades had said, Hook had not replaced her. In less than a week, Hook had invited her to their hide out, much to Ulianaโs outrage.
It was an abandoned building behind the castle that was the schoolโs main complex, hidden deep in a grove of trees. Morgie had apparently been the one to find it and theyโd taken it over, redecorating and turning it into their hangout zone complete with snacks and games.
The more time she spent with them, the less she had to hang around Chloe and the others, but she knew it was for the best. And life around the supposed villains wasnโt half bad; she was beginning to notice things about them.
Maleficent was the calmest of them all, but when she spoke or reacted, it was with sharp, cutting sarcasm or cruel, biting coldness. She enjoyed tapestry and weaving, which Red found interesting, and wouldnโt really engage in conversations with anyone else unapproached, except Hades. She also seemed to be close with Hilde, the snobby girl Red and Chloe had encountered on their first day; sheโd come into the hideout with her nose in the air, and her and Maleficent would talk and giggles for hours.
Hades, who was responsible for the dreary yet tasteful decorations, was probably the most fascinating. He was always regaling tales of his life on Mout Olympus, which Red now knew was the plane where the Greek gods lived, as well as the Underworld, the realm Hades controlled on his own. She now knew that he had been sent to Merlin Academy after an an altercation with his brother Zeus.
โBehavioural reform,โ Hades had sneered the day he told her. โMy behaviour is perfect; Iโm a freaking god.โ As he said this, his blue hair lit up into flames, to which he held several marshmallows, throwing them in his mouth once they were adequately browned.
When Red had asked him how he and Maleficent met, he had smiled and said, โI locked eyes with her my very first day and felt such a strong overwhelming darkness emanating from her soul itself. Felt like home.โ
Morgie was at first the hardest to figure out. He was the youngest out of all of them, which meant he was always teased and picked on and sent on errands, the latter especially by Uliana. Initially, Red found it a bit weird, till she realised one day when she saw the blond-haired boy looking at Uliana the same way she looked at a freshly prepared Umberry crumble; he was in love with her.
โHeโs like a dog, that one,โ Hook had told her about Morgie. โCute enough, but fiercely loyal. Donโt mess with his peopleโฆor then he becomes a snake.โ
Red wasnโt surprised when sheโd see Morgie staring at her with a sullen expression in his venom-green eyes. He was probably figuring out how best to get rid of her for Ulianaโs sake.
Uliana herself was still a bit of a mystery, but Red had summed her up to a few key points; she hated when anyone brought up her older sister(family issues), she spent a lot of time planning revenge over others that had โwrongedโ her(anger issues) and she enjoyed her solitude to an almost unhealthy amount(socialization issues?). That aside, Red knew the girl kept a collection of rare pearls and other sea items she used to make jewelry and crafts in her spare time, and she really enjoyed swimming.
The person sheโd been completely wrong about, surprisingly, was Hook. He was much calmer, refined and smarter than she had given him credit for. He grew up on the sea, the son of a captain and a Countess who had ran away from home with him. His mother had taught him the manners and behaviour of a noble, and his father had shown him his way around a boat, as well the ins and outs of the life of a captain.
โTheyโre both on land now. Gave up the sea life for something moreโฆsolid. That was after my pa shot a man clean dead off his ship. Ma couldnโt take it anymore. Havenโt seen โem in years.โ
When Red had asked him why heโd come to the school, he confided in her; heโd come to study a strange land he intended to explore.
โNeverland,โ heโd told her. โHeard stories of it; tales, all my life. A mystical place with mermaids and indigenous tribes and the prettiest greenery a man has ever seen. But now I hear some magically de-aged man has been kidnapping children from the real world anโ taking โem there. And get thisโฆthey never grew old.โ
โThatโsโฆbad?โ Red had asked. Not aging sounded like such a Wonderlandian concept. She knew of a lady who never celebrated her unbirthday ever and had apparently stopped aging because of it.
โYes, as crazy as it might sound. They never get the chance to really experience life, experience the world, or become their own people. They wonโt know if theyโd want to become a vagabond like myself, or a stunner like yourself. I figured Iโd pay the land a visit and give โem the ole Hook special. Iโve been reading up on it in the Library so I donโt go in blind. After this semester, Iโll be gone.โ
It was just as well, as after the semester, Red would also be goneโฆ.hopefully.
Today, she was sitting idly in Hookโs hammock, on the upper floor of the hideout, overlooking the rest of them, who barely even registered her presence.
Hook had stepped out to make another trip to the Library, Maleficent and Hades were engaged in a card game, Morgie was completing some of Ulianaโs homework, and Uliana was jotting down more revenge ideas.
โYou know, this would go a whole lot faster if you guys just helped me with some ideas,โ she declared out loud after a while.
Maleficent rolled her eyes and played her hand. โI offered to curse her.โ
โAnd I offered to burn her to a crisp,โ Hades offered, playing his.
โUgh, too easy. I need something big, and longlasting. I need people to talk about this for ages to come.โ
โYeah? Good luck with that.โ
โI have a plan, Uli.โ
โNo, Morgie, hypnotizing her is too easy as well. But Iโll keep it in mind in case all else fails.โ
The boy beamed at even the small amount of praise heโd just received, the tips of his ears turning pink with joy as silence fell over the room once more.
Suddenly, the door opened and a flood of light broke into the semi-darkened space. Emerging from the light in a click-clack of kitten heels and a flurry of floral perfume was Mirana, her white hair held half up- half down in waves that blended into her short white dress.
Uliana got up immediately, her focused expression heating up into anger. โWhat are you doing here?โ
โHey, Uliana. Nice to see you.โ Miranaโs tone was calm and she smiled serenely. Maleficent, Hades and Morgie were already on alert and she noticed.
Ulianaโs tentacles started unfolding from behind her as she gave the Princess a once over.
โWhatโs stopping me from taking you right here, right now and then letting my friends finish off your remains?โ
The scrape in Ulianaโs voice made Red a little worried.
For a second, she wondered whether Mirana would actually make it out unscathed.
The white haired girl, though visibly alarmed, stood her ground and spoke up again. โThis is your turf, so obviously nothing is stopping you, but Iโm certain youโre gonna wanna hear what I have to tell you.โ
โWhich is?โ
โI have a propostion and a plan.โ
โAbout what?โ
โWell, I know you want to get rid of my sisterโฆ and thatโs great, because so do I.โ
Uliana cackled with laughter, which made Mirana frown.
โYou? You want to get rid of your own sister?โ
โWhy? Is it so unfathomable? I was led to believe you share a similar sentiment with your own sister.โ
The statement instantly made Uliana sober up.
โGo on.โ
โIโve been wracking my brain for hours this week trying to figure out how, when and where, till I took a little wander into the grand hall where the ballโs taking place soon. Theyโre setting up a part of the ceiling to release flower petals over the guests dancing; and my sister is going to be one of them-โ
โ-Wait, hold up,โ Uliana interrupted. โYou want to destroy your sister with flowers?โ
โNot just any flowers. Ever heard of Morta Lilies?โ
โOf course I have. They grow under the sea.โ
โAs well as in Wonderland. But, youโll never find any at our palace, because sister dearest is deathly allergic. A simple touch of a Morta Lilyโs petals to her skin causes it to break out in a nasty, bleeding rash, and the pollen makes her lose consciousness. Now, imagine if we had a whole load of Morta Lily petals dropping on herโฆโ
Red held her breath as Uliana smiled conspiratorially.
โWait,โ she said again, suspicion cracking her smile. โSo where do I fit into all this? You seem to have it figured out.โ
โYouโre going to help get the flowers and set them up in the ballroom.โ
โOhhh, so when things get crazy, Iโll get all the blame and get kicked out for it? No thank you!โ
Mirana sighed and folded her slim arms. โI knew you were going to be worried about that, but thatโs actually not going to be an issue. King Louis had Merlin give him total control over the ball. He has his decorators and planners all the way from France in there. If thereโs any suspicion of foul play, itโll be pinned on them and not you. Besides, no one else in the school, including staff, knows about my sisterโs allergy and she wonโt even be able to tell them.โ
Uliana pondered for a second before scoffing. โNope, not interested. Take your dumb plan and go.โ
She turned and Red released her breath, thinking that was the end of it, but Mirana still stood there.
โWhat a shame, I thought you were being serious.โ she said, her tone dripping with disdain.
โExcuse you?โ Uliana turned back round, angrier now than she was before.
โDidnโt you say you wanted to kill my sister after she embarassed you in front of the whole school? Or was that just an exaggeration? Who knows? Maybe all your other grand schemes and plots were all exaggerations too. Maybe you really arenโt the big, bad Uliana everyoneโs scared of. Or used to be scared of, anyway.โ
โWhat do you mean by that?โ
Mirana tilted her head as if she were talking to a child. โOh, havenโt you heard? Itโs been a bit of a while since the cupcake incident, and people have noticed that my sister still seems to be existing normally, and, uh, theyโve started to talk. Word is, youโve lost your touch. You know? Gone soft. And I thought to myself, โThat canโt possibly be the caseโ. But maybe I was wrong. Go figure. It wonโt be long before just anyone thinks they can make a fool out of you. I wonder what food item will be used next? Bread sticks maybe?โ
Maleficent smirked to herself. This Princess was good.
โWait,โ Uliana said as the girl began walking away, finally done with her spiel.
โNot saying I agree with your plan or anything, but maybe Iโll consider adding it to the other, more advanced plans Iโve been coming up with.โ
Mirana pursed her lips to try and fight back a smile. Just like always, she was going to get what she wanted.
โAnd if I do eventually end up going with this, itโs going to have to be on my own terms,โ Uliana added.
โKnock yourself out. I honestly donโt care how you do it. I just need Iracebeth eliminated.โ
โWell then, I think we have a deal.โ
โPleasure doing business with you.โ
The Princess wasted no time sashaying out of the hideout.
โUli, youโre not really going to-โ
โ-Shut up, Morgie! I need to think.โ
Uliana stormed off as Maleficent bit down a sharp cackle of laughter and Redโs heart rate increased so quickly she could feel it in her ears.
So it was Mirana after all; her own aunt had been behind the scheme. And she had worked with the sea witch covertly.
She had to go tell Chloe.
Hades and Maleficent were back to their game, Morgie was back to the paper he was writing, Hook wasnโt back from the Library; the coast was clear.
She gathered her emotions and snuck out as quietly as possible, her calm movements turning into a sprint the second she was out of the door.
___________________________________
A.N: hi guysss! thanks for all the support so farโฅ๏ธโฅ๏ธ we've got a couple chapters left till the end of Heads&Hearts, buttt that won't be the end of Red and Chloeโs story๐คญ I won't spoil, but I have lots in store for you guys, so stay tuned!
