Art commissions, Thomas Doherty fanfics, good shit

Chapter 16; Bridget of Hearts.

The girl, Red’s mom from when she was Red’s age, tilted her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulder in a curling wave. “I’m sorry?” Red’s teenage mom asked, and Red sputtered, shaking her head.

“No—I meant—you just, sorry, the sun made you look like my mom,” Red said awkwardly, sitting up in the strangely soft bush, Chloe following her lead, sitting up and staring at the teenage version of Red’s mom.

She had dark hair, with one side of her hair streaked with pink, the other blonde like Red’s blonde hair, wearing a small golden tiara with a heart gem at the front. She was wearing a white blouse and a pink bow with a rose clasp on it, and a red-pink skirt with a sheer pink skirt over top of that, white tights, and dark brown boots. Smiling all the while.

Chloe had seen the portrait; it was even crazier to see the actual—nice—looking version of the queen of hearts. She was so, pink, and…sweet looking. It was crazy. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” Red’s mom laughed and Red let out a strained laugh, taking her teenage mom’s hand as she offered it, and letting her pull her up.

“Where’d you two drop in from, eh?” Red’s teenage mom giggled and Red could only blink.

Did her mom just, pun??

“Uh…fell through a rabbit hole,” Red said weakly, and her mom gasped, eyes practically going starry, leaning in close.

“You’re from the overworld!” Her teenage mom squealed, hands clasped together. “Oh~! I’ve always been so curiouser and curiouser to go see it! What’s it like? I have a friend who lives up there too, but she only visits, in the afternoon—and we’re always so busy playing and I always forget to ask her—” Her mom paused and cupped her hand over her mouth, before giggling.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I forgot to properly introduce myself!” Red’s mother stepped back with a flourish and curtsied. “I am Princess Bridget Vanderbilt of Hearts, of Wonderland.” Bridget smiled and stood; her tiara gleaming in the waning sunlight. She seemed to be waiting for their introductions.

“Oh—I’m Red…just Red,” Red said, quickly, doing a curtsy, though she had no skirt, and Chloe followed.

“I’m Chloe, it’s very nice to meet you, Princess Bridget,” Chloe said, very formally, but Bridget quickly waved off the formalities.

“Oh no no! Just Bridget, please. That princess stuff is just all so…exhausting,” Bridget groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically.

This could not be her mother, Red thought.

“So—have you two been to Wonderland before?” Bridget asked, and Red slowly nodded, while Chloe shook her head.

“I’ve fallen through the rabbit hole once or twice,” Red mumbled. “First time,” Chloe said, and Bridget grinned.

“I’ll have to show you around then! “ Bridget cheered, stepping between the girls and intertwining their arms, guiding them back towards the castle. Red and Chloe gave each other a look.

How was meeting Bridget supposed to help them save everyone at the garden party and stop the Queen of Hearts' coup?

Red sighed, following Bridget back into the rose garden courtyard. Guess they’d have to find out, the pocket watch sent them to this day for a reason. Hopefully.

“And this is one of my favorite spots to be when I’m not in boring princess lessons,” Bridget said, taking the girls to a secret rose garden, one Red had never seen in person but had seen it in the looking glass mirror.

The same garden her mother’s friend had never returned to.

Red frowned in thought, maybe that was the connection, after all—her mother had turned bitter and cruel after losing her dearest friend, maybe today Red could find out what actually happened—and fix it!

As Bridget chattered on about her garden and what she liked about it, Red stepped closer to Chloe, telling her what she thought. “You sure about that?” Chloe asked quietly, and Red shrugged.

“Not a hundred precent, but my mom goes on all the time about how she was abandoned by her only friend, and that’s why she's so…my mom,” Red whispered and Chloe hummed, crossing her arms—the two jolting into smiles as Bridget approached them with a grin.

“What do you think?” Bridget asked, and Red could genuinely say that she liked it, she liked everything about this version of Wonderland, of her mother. She didn’t say any of that though— instead saying; “I love it, it’s so…wonderful,” Red said softly, and Bridget beamed.

“Your Highness,” The three girls turned towards the entrance of Bridget’s secret garden, this era’s Jack of Diamonds stood in the doorway, helmet to his chest as he bowed.

Bridget groaned. “I’m not here! I don’t want to suffer through Mathilda’s lessons today!!” Red blinked in shock, Mathilda was the name of her step grandmother, was her mom—HER mom—trying to avoid princess lessons?

Seriously, this could NOT be her mom.

Jack of Diamonds smiled and shook his head. “Ms. Ella has arrived.”

Bridget gasped with pure delight, and Chloe frowned. Ella? Red and Chloe leaned forward as Bridget ran towards the garden entrance, leaping into the arms of a dark-skinned girl dressed in blue, her dark mini-braided hair twisted into a single long braid, not unlike Chloe’s, tied off with a blue bow.

“No. way.” Chloe whispered, eyes going wide, as did Red’s. “My mom?”

It was. It was young Cinderella, smiling and giggling in Bridget’s arms as Bridget gleefully welcomed her dearest friend back to Wonderland.

“Our moms…were friends?” Red whispered, in pure shock.

Curiouser and curiouser!

Chapter 17; Ella.

“Oh Ella, it is wonderous to see you again!” Bridget practically squealed, pulling away from the hug to hold Ella’s hands, who laughed, smiling sweetly at her friend.

“I was here only last night,” Ella laughed as she spoke, shaking her head fondly as Bridget dragged her into the garden.

“And the hours apart were horrendous Ella, horrendous!” Bridget said dramatically, and Ella laughed again, her gaze catching onto Red and Chloe, the two staring back in shock still. “Oh! Ella, this is Red,” Red gave a little curtsy. “And Chloe!” Chloe fumbled and then bowed, eyes locked onto the teenage version of her mother.

“It’s nice to meet you both, I'm Ella,” Ella said, curtsying back, and the girls smiled. “Where’d you two come from?” Ella asked, having not seen them before in Wonderland during her usual nightly visits.

“Fell through a rabbit hole,” Chloe said, and Red nodded, the two didn’t want to outright say where they were from, aka the future, it could mess up a lot of things. Ella laughed, assuming that was just another wonderland saying.

“Anyway, we can all have a day together, wouldn’t it be fun? We can play croquet teams! Or badminton teams! Oh! Or hide the toad!” Bridget gasped, and Red wondered if this version of her mother was a spoiled winner yet—or if this would actually be fun.

“Any of those sound fun, Bridge,” Ella said, smiling. Bridget hummed, narrowing her eyes at Ella, leaning in close. Ella snorted. “What are you doing?” Ella asked, tilting her head.

“What's wrong? I know that look in your eyes, you’re sad, what's wrong?” Bridget said. Both Red and Chloe blinked. Ella looked just fine, happy even. How had Bridget known Ella was sad?

Ella sighed, her shoulders slumping. “You know me too well,” Ella said softly, smiling weakly.

“I know you just right,” Bridget said instead, poking Ella’s shoulder. “Now. Spill the tea, what is wrong?”

Ella sighed again, sitting down on a white garden seat. “The king is hosting a ball tonight, and my stepmother told me I have to finish all my chores, and extra, just for the chance to go. But I know she won't let me, and I don’t even have a dress to wear!”  Bridget hummed, pursing her lips.

“You want to go to a ball that badly?” Bridget asked, almost as if she couldn’t believe Ella would rather go to a royal ball rather than play with her, and Ella pouted a little. “It’s the princes’ ball, but I just want a night of fun, and freedom.” Ella said softly.

Chloe suddenly gasped, Red raising her brow at her.

“What?” Red asked quietly, and Chloe leaned in close to whisper. “This is the night before my mom met my dad, you know, the ball.” Chloe said, and Red gasped, before frowning, another memory coming to surface, about what Cinderella said at family day only a little bit ago.

“Wait-your mom said she used to have a friend in her dreams, a sort’ve mental escape,” Red mumbled, looking back at Bridget and Ella, Bridget comforting her friend. “And my mom always goes on and on about how she was abandoned by her only friend, around this time…do you think…” Red glanced over at Chloe, who seemed a  little confused. “One way to enter Wonderland is through your dreams, which is what your mom does every night to escape her home life. But, after she meets your dad, her dreams change,”

Chloe’s eyes widened, realizing what Red was getting at. “And that’s what happened between them, my mom didn’t know your mom was real—and your mom thought Ella abandoned her on purpose!” Chloe said.

Red shushed Chloe as she got louder, but thankfully, Ella and Bridget were still talking, not paying attention to them. “Okay, we figured it out—but…how do we fix this?” Red mumbled, tapping her chin.

“…maybe we see what happened, maybe if we hang around, and help your mom, we can—change something,” Chloe suggested, and Red sighed, that would be their best bet. “Okay, we stay, just till tonight, figure out what exactly happened between our moms. See if we can save the future in the past,” Red said, the two rejoining the girls as Bridget took Ella’s hands.

“Look, Ella, if you’re so sad about not being able to go to some boring royal ball, how about we go out instead?” Bridget suggested, and Ella tilted her head. “What do you mean?” Ella asked. Bridget beamed, standing and twirling once.

“We, are going to go dancing, Ella. To the Rose Dust Ballroom, the most delightfully wonderous dance hall in Wonderland city; lights, dancing, music, everything you want from that boring king’s ball, you’ll have twice the fun with me at the Rose Dust Ballroom.” Bridget said, grinning at Ella, who laughed lightly.

“Are you sure? I mean, that sounds so fun, but maybe if I can get all my chores done, my stepmom will let me go.” Ella said, still hopeful that she’d get to go to the royal ball.

“Why do you care about what your stepmom wants so much?” Red asked, and Chloe elbowed her, glaring a little, but Ella just sighed.

“Oh, enough about boring old stepmothers who ruin everyone's fun,” Bridget groaned, tossing an arm over Ella’s shoulder. “Forget all those problems, you’re here right now! With me, and we’re going to have fun.” Bridget said, almost haughtily.

Ella laughed and shrugged a little. “It sounds fun, Bridget, but, I’m not sure,” Ella murmured, Bridget looked to Red and Chloe for support, but they only shrugged. “Ugh, It seems the responsibility to corrupt my friends, falls to me, again,” Bridget said dramatically, tossing a lock of dark and pink-streaked hair over her shoulder, throwing another arm around Red, pulling her and Ella close.

“The problem with Stepmothers is—♪They always try to teach the wrong lesson.” Bridget began, much to Red’s shock. Seriously, how was this girl her mother? “♪Believe me—I’ve gone through enough of them to know. They want you to be less callow, less…shallow?”

She took Ella and Red’s hands, spinning out and stopping. “♪But I say why invite stress in? Stop letting in strife. And learn to live, the unexamined—life~” Bridget gave a grin, Red and Chloe staring in shock as Ella began to laugh, this behavior from Bridget was normal for her.

Bridget spun herself again, passing between Ella and Red— releasing their hands as she spun them—climbing onto the fountain, dancing along the edge. “♪Dancing through life—skimming the surface, gliding where turf is smooth~. Life’s more painless, for the brainless,” Bridget grabbed Red, holding her head to roll around playfully, Red with a disbelieving smile on her face. This could not be her mom! Bridget was so…fun!

“♪Why think too hard? When it’s so soothing? Dancing through life—” Bridget curled up and stood on her toes, falling forward and spinning; catching herself and dancing along the fountain edge again, the girls following her. “♪No need to tough it—when you can slough it off as I do~!” Bridget then jumped into the fountain, water spraying up as it splashed. “♪Nothing matters! But knowing nothing matters. It’s just life—so keep dancing through.”

Red and Chloe shared a disbelieving laugh and smile, following Bridget as she jumped out of the fountain and took Ella’s hand, dancing back into the castle courtyard, which was filled with servants and court members, many of them pausing their work as they saw their princess.

Bridget began causing some minor chaos, letting go of Ella’s hand to dance through her court, tipping a set of card soldiers as they were carrying a set of ladders and red paint. Bridget stopped in the middle of the courtyard, where a stacked pedestal was, and she hit a button in the middle, and the ground began to move beneath everyone's feet in a multi-ringed turntable.

Everyone had to stop, losing their place in the courtyard as the turntable made them move where they had not planned to go. Red and Chloe gasped, Red laughing a bit—she’d used the turntable once in the exact same way in her time. Maybe she and her mom weren’t as different as she thought.

Gasps rung out, and Bridget threw out her hands, grinning. “♪Dancing through life—swaying and sweeping, and always keeping cool.” Bridget jumped forward, catching the feet of a card soldier that now sat on the top of the ladder the others had been holding earlier, leaping across a few turntable rings, landing in front of Ella, dancing to the right as the ring pulled her left. “♪life is fraughtless—when you’re thoughtless. Those who don’t try-never look foolish.”

Bridget spun, stepping back onto another ring of the turntable, dodging card soldiers and court members, who began to get into the groove Bridget had begun, laughing and dancing. Red couldn’t believe her eyes once more, her mom actually used to be fun, it was crazy. “♪Dancing through life—mindless and dareless. Make sure you’re where less trouble is rife!”

Bridget spun again, dancing back through the turntable courtyard rings and then forward again, dodging more court members who were dancing more freely as the moment went on. “♪Woes are fleeting—blows are glancing, when you’re dancing—through life!” Bridget landed in front of the girls, bowing as they cheered for her, laughing.

She carefully quieted them, and Ella giggled, Red grinned, and Chloe stared as Bridget led them in a quick bouncy shoulder dance before bursting between them in a jump, taking Ella with her as the courtyard erupted in dance, the main stage being the turntable as Bridget spun Ella a few times.

Finally, she stopped, jumping onto a short wall. “♪Let’s go down to the Rose Dust Ballroom, we’ll meet there later tonight. We can dance till first light, find the prettiest girl—give her a whirl.” Bridget jumped off the wall and spun Ella again, who laughed brightly, squealing as Bridget pulled her close. “♪Right on down! To the Rose Dust Ballroom—come on, follow me!” Bridget jumped up onto a courtyard table, looking across at everyone, soldiers, court members, and the girls all watching her, following her lead.

“♪You’ll be happy to be there! Dancing through life~!” Red and Chloe eagerly joined in, singing along and following Bridget’s dance as she freely bounced and moved, spinning—her skirt flaring around her. “♪Down at the Rose Dust—if only because Dust is what we come to! Nothing matters when knowing nothing matters. It’s just life. It’s just life! So keep dancing through~”

Bridget took Chloe and Red’s hands, spinning them off as they laughed, before Bridget turned to Ella, who was smiling brightly—cheeks flushed. “So?” Bridget grinned, and Ella nodded.

“I’ll be there. Tonight.” Ella said, laughing, and Bridget beamed, pulling her friend into a hug. “You won't regret it!” Bridget cheered, and Ella smiled, looking off before her smile softened.

“I have to go, see you tonight!” Ella said, running off. Chloe followed, watching as Ella disappeared into thin air, waking up from her dream. Chloe hummed, so time passed differently in Wonderland then, as Ella had just had a full night's sleep in a mere 10 minutes in Wonderland.

So now, they waited, and Chloe knew tonight—for Ella—would be the night she met Prince Charming, her dad, and that would mean the end of Ella’s dream visits to Wonderland. And the beginning of the cruel Queen of Hearts.

“Are you two coming as well?” Bridget as Chloe and Red as she led them into the castle, which was so very pink compared to what Red was used to in the future—her present. Red and Chloe nodded with grins.

“Well, you hyped it so much, we couldn’t miss it,” Red said, hoping that maybe, if they were there—her mom wouldn’t feel abandoned and perhaps the cruel Queen of Hearts would not exist. Bridget only smiled, leading them to her room to try on some of her spare dresses.

Chapter 18; The Linchpin

As the sun set in Wonderland, Red and Chloe giggled as they followed a hushing, sneaky Bridget out of the castle, through the castle town, and towards the Rose Dust Ballgown, which was a secret underground dance hall filled with all sorts of Wonderland people. Animals were playing music, flowers danced in overhead chandeliers, and hazy colorful smoke filled the dance floor-swirling around everyone’s feet.

 Bridget grinned as she pulled Red and Chloe down the stairs behind her, throwing herself right onto the dance floor.

Ella wasn't here, but Bridget—currently—knew Ella’s visits were sporadic and not always on time. Which was fine with her, as long as Ella came to the dance as promised. For now, they danced.

Red had never had so much fun, dancing with Chloe and Bridget, her skirt twirling around her as Bridget led the night, encouraging the whole dance floor to follow her lead in an electrifying upbeat dance, the sound of their feet hitting the floor thumping in tune with their hearts.

They danced through the night, Red and Chloe having so much fun—they failed to notice as time passed, Ella never arrived; and Bridget's mood dimmed as her friend failed to come.

The sun rose over Wonderland, and Ella never came. “She promised,” Bridget said faintly as they walked up the steps to leave the dance hall.

“Maybe she got caught up?” Chloe said softly, knowing what truly happened, but while she and Red couldn’t reveal the future; they still wanted to help. “Maybe her stepmom locked her up?” Red suggested, and Bridget shook her head.

Red and Chloe shared a look. Ella wouldn’t be returning to Wonderland, and so Bridget's sadness would now only grow into bitterness and abandonment that would transform into cruelty over the years.

And they couldn’t stay; they had to go back to their time.

Which meant fixing this—was going to be impossible, unless they wanted to lose so many years babysitting Bridget to make sure she didn’t turn evil. “Thank you two for coming, it was still fun, maybe Ella will come later? She’s always shows up at the oddest hours,” Bridget said, a tinge of hopefulness still in her voice, but the girls knew it was for naught.

“Maybe…we have to go, but it was nice meeting you Bridget,” Red said, and Bridget smiled, Chloe hugged her, and Bridget squeezed back. “It was very nice meeting you two as well, goodbye,” Bridget said quietly, heading for her secret garden, where Red knew she’d sit for hours, waiting for Ella to arrive.

Chloe took Red’s arm, and they walked back to the rabbit hole tree they had emerged from hours ago. “That was a lot sadder than I expected it to be,” Red said softly. “I’d seen her story so many times, in the looking glass, but experiencing it was way sadder than just hearing her talk about it. But I never knew the details,” Red said quietly, and Chloe nodded.

“But…what do we do now? We didn’t change anything,” Chloe said, and Red sighed.

“Maybe we weren’t meant to?” Red mumbled, taking out the pocket watch from her jacket pocket, staring down at the glass front. “I mean, we can't stop your mom from meeting your dad, that would erase you from existence and be cruel to your mom.” Red muttered, and Chloe nodded.

“And we can't stay forever,” Chloe said, and Red sighed, rubbing her face in exhaustive frustration.

“What are we supposed to do?” Red groaned, wishing she knew what set her mom off at the garden party to abruptly start her coup. Because at first her mom was—fine. Being scary and controlling, but fine, her cards kept deep in her clutch.

And then suddenly she’d just…snapped, out of nowhere.

Red frowned, then again, Cinderella had been at family day as well, and…possibly, her mom had seen Ella, and knew who she was, and just-snapped from betrayal.

But what if…Red and Chloe stopped that fateful meeting that ended up in a coup, and helped the two old friends meet again properly?

“I think I know what to do!” Red suddenly gasped, eyes snapping open and going wide, grinning. Chloe leaned in, curious. “We go back to right before Family Day, before it starts, before my mom enters the garden. And you get your mom, and I’ll stall mine, and maybe—just maybe—if we get them to talk, we can stop my mom’s coup.”

It was a far-fetched plan, maybe stupid, foolish, and rushed; but it was all they had. Chloe could only nod in agreement, and Red quickly wrapped the chain around their hands before pressing the pocket watch crown, the time travel magic bursting around them again-this time sending them forward in time.

The pocket watch stopped, and Red looked around, nodding. Everything was just as it was under her mother's rule. Dark and gloomy. “It worked; we’re back in our era,” Chloe looked down at the pocket watch. “And it's just before noon, we can catch our moms if we’re quick,” Chloe said, and Red nodded, looking towards the castle, which was red and black again, her mothers influence.

In the distance, her mother was approaching the castle rabbit hole.

“Let’s go!” Red said quickly, and she and Chloe jumped through the rabbit hole back to Auradon. Their clothes transformed from the wonderland dresses Bridget had given them to their family day dresses they’d picked out that morning, landing back in the Auradon prep lawn.

“Good luck!” Chloe told Red, who echoed the sentiment; watching as Chloe ran towards the family day garden party-which had just started, past Red and Chloe wouldn't even be there yet; there was time.

Red swallowed hard, clutching her hands in her skirt, turning and running for the other rabbit hole where her mom would emerge. She didn’t even know what to say, or how to say it, but she had to stall her mom so Chloe could grab Ella and fix this mess.

She just hoped this stupid plan worked.

Chapter 19; Reunited friends

Red ran down the side lawn of Auradon prep, heading for the front gardens, where her mother would be walking. To her relief, and a lot of anxiety, she was there, scepter in hand as she walked down the path towards the back gardens where Family day was being held.

Red took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She could do this. She could confront her mother.

“Mom!” Red called out, emerging from the side path and rushing towards her mother, who raised a thin eyebrow at her, her lips pursed.

“Quinn, what are you doing over here? Shouldn’t you be at this, family day?” The queen drawled, rolling her eyes a little. Red’s chest ached a little, already missing Bridget but she couldn’t think about that right now, she had to fix things.

“Mom, okay—you have to listen to me, I know what you say about friends and how they’re useless, but I think you’re wrong mom, I—” Red’s mother narrowed her eyes, using her scepter to tip Red’s chin up, interrupting Red. “Friends? What? Have you gone mad, Quinn? Disobeying me?” Red’s mother practically hissed. “I told you, Friends are a waste of time, only hurting you in the end and abandoning you the moment it suits them.” Red felt her anger rise, and she smacked away the scepter from her face—much to her mother’s shock.

“No! I haven’t gone mad, in fact—I’m actually quite in the right mind!” Red yelled, giving up on just stalling her mother and instead standing up to her. “Yes, I made a friend, and I love her! Her name's Chloe and she's the best person I’ve ever met! She drives me absolutely insane and is a stupid goody-two-shoes, but she’s my best friend!”

Red’s mother glared, seething, but Red went on. “And you can't do anything to pull us apart. And I know you had your heart broken, mom, by your friend, but that doesn’t mean I have to suffer for it. And what if you were wrong? What if your friend didn’t mean to abandon you?” Red asked, and her mother’s jaw tightened, glaring down at Red.

“You have no idea what you’re prattling on about, Quinn. I know she left me, on purpose, for that stupid ball, for a stupid prince; leaving me behind when she found someone else. Like I meant nothing! After all I did for her!” Red’s mom clenched her jaw tightly, fighting off tears. “Friends are only cruel in the end, and I don’t want that happening to you!” Red’s mother bellowed, and Red’s lips tightened, understanding but refusing to back down.

“You’re wrong. Mom.” Red said, sternly. “Ella didn’t abandon you on purpose.” Her mother's eyes widened in shock.

“How—I never told you her name,” She said quietly, and Red swallowed hard, turning as she heard someone approach and gasp softly. It was Cinderella, her eyes wide as she looked at Bridget, who stared back in shock. “Ella?” Bridget said quietly, stepping back as Cinderella approached, tears building in her eyes.

“Bridge?” Cinderella asked, softly, her voice cracking. When Bridget only nodded slightly, still in shock, Cinderella threw herself forward, hugging Bridget tightly. Bridget’s eyes widened—dropping her scepter, instinctively wrapping her arms around Cinderella. “Oh—you’re real! All this time, and you were real!”

Bridget couldn’t believe her ears, confused, and—still a little bitter, but mostly confused. “Real?” Bridget asked, not understanding—she never knew that Ella’s visits to Wonderland were just dreams to her.

Cinderella pulled back, smiling, tears in her eyes. “I never knew Wonderland—you—were real! I always thought it was just a dream, a place my mind made up to escape my daily life, but—you’re real and—oh Bridget, I’ve missed you so much.” Cinderella laughed wetly and pulled Bridget back into the hug.

“But—” Bridget said, blinking rapidly to avoid crying—shaking her head. “You never came back—you promised—and you never came back, you left me, you forgot me.” Bridget said, her voice tight.

Red had never seen her mother show this much—emotion—before, well; emotion that wasn’t anger or bitterness, or just-blank coldness. Before them wasn’t the Queen of Hearts; it was Bridget.

“I never forgot about you,” Cinderella said softly, smiling, shaking her head a little. “You were the very reason I survived all those years under my stepmother's thumb, the very reason I gained the courage to be free, to break some rules, and go to that ball. You were the reason I found my happiness. You were my best friend, and you still are, and I’m so terribly sorry that I never came back to Wonderland, I would’ve if I’d known it was more than just a dream.”

Cinderella moved her hands to Bridget’s, holding them to her chest. “I’m sorry, Bridget, truly,”  Cinderella said softly, earnestly, genuinely. Bridget’s lip crumbled, and Cinderella smiled, throwing her arms around Bridget again as Bridget pulled her back into a hug, burying her face into Cinderella’s shoulder.

“…Well that went way better than I feared,” Red said quietly, and Chloe smiled, stepping beside Red. “What did you tell your mom to get her over here?” Red asked Chloe, whose smile softened a little.

“Most of the truth, just spun it around a little; mentioned you and Wonderland, and then your mom’s name, and that got mine moving.” Chloe said, and Red nodded, pursing her lips. Very smart and simple.

“Let’s go talk, we have so much to catch up on,” Cinderella said to Bridget, who nodded, the two queens intertwined their hands. Cinderella turned to Red and Chloe, smiling. “We’ll be nearby; go enjoy the garden party.” She said, and the girls nodded, watching their mothers go off to talk. Her mother’s scepter left behind in the grass.

“…What now?” Red mumbled, pulling out the pocket watch. They’d saved the day, that was for sure. Her mother would be way too distracted to enact a coup. “…We go back to our time, and see what changed,” Chloe said, taking the chain and wrapping it around their fingers, the two holding the pocket watch and clicking the crown together.

Sending them back to the near future.

Chapter 20; New beginnings

Hey again, it’s me, Red. You know me pretty well at this point, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, villain kid, student at Auradon prep, princess of Wonderland, Chloe Charming’s best friend, blah blah blah. Boring stuff.

It’s been three months since Family day, and…things are better now. Mom and I are getting along now, she even calls me Red, instead of Quinn. It’s nice to finally hear her call me what I like, instead of her just ignoring what I want.

Speaking of my mom, she and Cinderella have been hanging out practically every day, seriously, if I want to pop over to grab some clothes from the castle, Cinderella is already there—playing a game of croquet with my mom, or having a tea party. It’s really cute, and weird, seeing my mom so—happy. But it’s good. I’m happy too. My mom and I are getting better, it’s slow, but good, it’s nice to be…myself around her.

As for Wonderland? Well~

---

Wonderland was sprawling with color, hues of pink and white decorating the Queen of Hearts' castle, the courtyard full of life once more, and the fear that once gripped the townspeople had eased.

The queen hadn’t ordered any head chopping in months, and Wonderland could breathe again. As for its princess? Well, she was jumping across scattered rocks along a riverbed, grinning as she heard laughter behind her. Red spun around, facing Chloe, who jumped onto a flat rock just in front of Chloe.

“♪Don’t have to win that gold all on your own—we’re a team now; we’re stronger.” Red began, holding out her hand to Chloe, who took it and leapt onto the wide rock Red was on, grinning wide. “♪Don’t gotta face the whole world all alone—‘cause we can go further,” Chloe sang, laughing as they jumped from the wide rock across the riverbed to the hollow tree trunk that reached across it, the two dancing together.

“♪The road could be hard, and the night could be dark—like a jewel, we’ll shine brightly, wherever we are!” Chloe flipped off the tree trunk, smiling up at red, continuing to sing on her own. “♪If we stick to the dream—we’ll never fall apart!” Red grinned, jumping down to Chloe, the two dancing and racing across the field towards the castle.

“♪Because we’re together—stronger side by side! This is our moment; it’s our time. So we’re different, whatever—everyone can shine! This is the moment of our lives, ‘cause we’re better together!” The girls laughed, slowing as they reached the courtyard of the castle, beaming as they saw their mothers together.

They were playing a game of croquet, Cinderella was winning, and Bridget was begrudgingly accepting her current loss. “♪Every one of us is more than strong enough. But when we work together—” Cinderella sang, hugging Chloe as she ran over, Red wandering over to her mother with a softer smile.

Bridget smiled back, their relationship was still a little strained, but they were both making the effort to make it better. “♪We’re a power that nothing else can touch—every piece makes us better.” Cinderella and Bridget smiled at each other, singing together. “The road could be hard, and the night could be dark—like a jewel, we’ll shine brightly wherever we are.”

Red took her mom’s hands, and her mom laughed as they began to spin together. “♪If we stick to the dream, we’ll never fall apart. Fall apart~!”  Red sang with her mom, the two letting go and spinning into their friends’ arms, Chloe and Cinderella laughing as they caught Red and Bridget-now all singing together.

“♪’Cause we’re better together—stronger side by side. This is our moment, it’s our time. So we’re different—whatever; everyone can shine! This is the moment of our lives—‘cause we’re better together.”

The four walked into the courtyard, which was alive with life like it had been in the past, full of townspeople, court members, and guards; the courtyard was open to the public once more. All singing and dancing together. “♪We are stronger, all of us together—only makes us better, we can do whatever. We are stronger, all of us together—only makes us better, we can do whatever!”

Red and Chloe danced with their moms in the courtyard, smiling all the while. “♪Cause we’re better together—stronger side by side—this is our moment, it's our time. So we’re different—whatever, everyone can shine! This is the moment of our lives! Cause we’re better together!”

Red spun, grinning as she spotted Chloe, the two running into each other's arms, spinning and dancing together, laughing; they drove each other crazy, but they’d not change a thing about the other. Because friends like them made life so much sweeter, and easier.

“♪We are stronger, all of us together—only makes us better, we can do whatever. We are stronger, all of us together—only makes us better, we can do whatever!”

Friends like them made the days apart bearable, knowing their friend was just waiting to reunite with them.

“♪’Cause we’re better together.” Chloe and Red finished, holding each other close, grinning widely.

Red couldn’t ask for a better friend, and neither could Chloe.

A perfectly happy ending, just as it should be.

Epilogue

Wonderland had fallen quiet as the pink moon rose, even the Cheshire cat was taking his midnight nap, his half invisible stripped tail swinging over a lone rabbit hole that connected to Auradon prep.

A flash of light, and a figure emerged from the rabbit hole, creeping into the castle, sneaking past guards that were being lazy—far less fearful to do so now that the queen had softened up.

A snickering cackle emerged from the figure, who slipped across the courtyard and into Maddox hatter’s workshop, taking a good long look across the chaotic mess.

Their eyes landed on the pocket watch blueprints, grinning wide, snatching the blueprints—knocking over several other papers and half-finished inventions, holding back their laughter as they escaped into the night and back through the rabbit hole.

What? You didn’t think this was the end of the story, did you?

I’m Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, ugh, once upon a time, I might’ve been proud of that title. You see, I didn’t know my mom for the first, what was it, 10 years of my life? My mom, the queen of hearts as I’ve already said, was arrested by the Auradon royal guard just after I was born and she was sent off to the isle of the lost, leaving me and Wonderland behind.

Now, you might be thinking ‘Red, the isle was created over 20 years ago? Wouldn’t you be over 20 now?’ And if I wasn’t born and raised in Wonderland, where nothing makes sense, and what makes sense doesn’t; You’d be right! But time works differently in Wonderland, so what was 20-something years in Auradon—was only 10 for us here in Wonderland.

And so, when Queen Mal and King Ben took down the barrier, Mom returned, and with it—24 years of bottled-up rage. She spent so much time in Auradon's magic, that she messed up Wonderland's time structure, and things sped up quick.

It’s been six years since my mom came back to Wonderland. And let’s just say, it’s not so Wonderful Anymore.

But before we can get to my story, like we all want to, apparently we have’ta go see what's happening over in Auradon. Through the rabbit hole you go~!

=

Uma walked into the office of Fairy Godmother with a slam of the doors and a pirate swagger to her step. It had only been a few years since the barrier around the isle was taken down, but those years hadn’t watered her down. Uma, now in her mid-twenties and standing proud as ever, was taking the next step in her life after sailing around the world, discovering what had been held back from her for so long of her life.

“FG,” Uma greeted with her usual sharp grin, taking off her pirate captain's hat to set it aside as the old fairy welcomed her in. “You know, sometimes I forget I never made it in here… It’s cozy,” Uma said with a snort. She’d never gone to Auradon prep herself, having aged out before the barrier broke, so she’d never been in FG’s office at the school.

“Thank you, but I’m sure you’ll decorate it to your liking,” Fairy Godmother said lightly, pouring them some tea. Uma perked up.

“Ah, speaking of that,” Uma said, snapping her fingers. Her pirate crew strolled in, beginning to redecorate FG’s office. The old fairy sputtered for a moment before sighing. She should’ve expected this.

“Well, to help prepare you, I made a list—color-coded by priority,” FG said, smiling as she handed Uma a stack of paper work. Which she just set aside for later.

“My first priority is to make sure all the kids from every kingdom gets to attend Auradon prep,” Uma said, standing, reaching into her coat pocket.

“That’s already our policy,” FG laughed, blinking as Uma shook her head, withdrawing a letter—addressed to Wonderland.

“Every kingdom, including Wonderland,” Uma said, and FG gasped, cupping her cheek.

“Oh my, no, Uma—dear, Wonderlands been cut off since the barrier came down, the queen of hearts, she’s extremely hostile,” FG said frantically, but Uma only huffed with a smirk.

“Yeah, I know, but theres a vk there—waiting for her chance. And i'm not going to be the one to leave a vk behind.” Uma said, holding out the letter, FG puffed her cheeks, eyes wide.

“It’s too dangerous! Oh if only queen Mal and King Ben were here,” FG tittered and Uma shook her head, laughing.

“Oh come on, Mal would be on board for this, Ben too—you really think the girl who broke the isle barrier and the guy who invited four evil vks to Auradon, even against his parents advice—wouldn’t want to invite a new vk?” Uma teased and FG bit her inner lip, anxious.

Uma glanced to FG’s desk, a picture of all the original vks sitting atop it, including Carlos. “Hey,” Uma said, softer, nodding to Carlos in the picture. FG turned, her gaze softening. “no vk left behind. That was his motto.” Uma paused, taking a breath, “So if you’re not doing it for me, or Mal…then you’re doing it for him. It’s what he would’ve wanted.” Uma said quietly, and FG took a deep breath, drawing her wand and gently tapping the letter.

“Bibbidi, bobbidi, boo,” FG whispered and with a sparkle of her magic, the letter floated up and was out the window, flying to the nearby rabbit hole, slipping through the barrier.

And into Wonderland.

=

There you are! Was wondering, heh, where you were! You were taking foreverrrr. Now! Back to me.

Now we all know my mom, crazy tyrannical queen of hearts, one wrong word and its ‘Off with your head!’ and she means it.

She’s taken control of everything here, there’s curfews, a dress code, a limit on fun even! If you want to have a party for your unbirthday; you best make sure you’ve got the queens permission and invite her.

It’s boring. Everyone’s too scared to go against her, even the March Hare and the Mad Hatter just obey her. Not me. Oh no. She may be my mom, but treating Wonderland this way just aint right.

Let’s see how she likes a ‘little’ mess in her ‘perfect’ castle.

-

Beyond Auradon, nestled deep in the enchanted forest, sat the rabbit hole, once open to anyone who came across it—the Wonderland's mad queen blocked it off upon her thunderous return, leaving its people and anyone within it locked inside.

A land full of unnatural colors, strange mushrooms that made you grow or shrink depending on the side you bit from, and talking rabbits that were always late—Wonderland should’ve been a kingdom of dreams and childish madness.

It wasn’t. The Queen of Hearts ruled her section of the kingdom with an iron fist. Her castle town was in a chokehold with all its rules, curfew, dress code, and assigned jobs; and if you failed to comply?

It was off with your head.

Night fell across Wonderland, heart-shaped streetlights bathing the streets of the Castle town in red, its citizens marching in line to their homes, locking their doors as soon as they were inside. Curfew was in effect.

And there was one rebellious princess still out on the streets, spray cans in hand as she defaced a propaganda/fear poster of her mother, grinning to herself as she sprayed a mustache and goofy smile and heart eyes on the poster of her mother.

She’d done this with nearly every other propaganda poster in the town, defacing it to either be silly, or invoke a revolution. Down with the mad queen! One poster was defaced with.

Red hadn’t known much outside of Wonderland, but she knew one thing. Her mother, wasn’t a good queen.

The curfew siren echoed lowly through the streets and Red grinned to herself, stashing her spray can away into her backpack and slipping away from the defaced poster and back towards the palace. The march of soldiers clad in armor echoed, beginning their patrols.

Red would have to be careful not to be seen.

♪I’m a rebel, I'm a menace, I’m a one-girl riot—yeah, yeah yeah.

She’d done it before, so it wasn’t hard. She slipped into an alleyway, barely avoiding a group of soldiers as they marched down the street, their silver armor gleaming red under the streetlamps.

♪Slipping through the shadows like I’m ultraviolet, yeah yeah.

Red grinned as they passed by her, tucking a lock of her white wig back behind her hood, dashing out onto the street towards the palace courtyard. Where her mother's grand portrait await for a makeover.

But first~

♪Hearts on the walls, but no love in these streets. Appetite for destruction a girl's gotta eat.

Red grabbed the garden shears left precariously behind by the garden staff that evening and began destroying her mother's prized courtyard hedges, lopping a heart hedge down the middle, shearing Roses from their neatly trimmed places, and chopping a hedge of a throne in half.

♪Devil on my shoulder, and it won't be quiet. Yeah yeah.

This should distract her mother for a few days, getting her eyes and mind off the citizens, so concerned with the mysterious rebel who always managed to slip away.

♪I’m on a path of destruction, this is gonna be fun!

Red, armed with a paint bomb Maddox helped her make—unknowing of what she was going to use it for—chucked it high, and it ticked and went BOOM just as it reached the portrait, covering everything in its path a bright pink.

Red cackled, clapping once—she didn’t have much time now, the guards would be here any moment, time to cause some chaos!

♪Set it off! Go berserk! Tonight I light it up like fireworks!

Red grabbed and smashed vases full of red roses onto the ground, grinning as the sound echoed across the courtyard and the spotlight above whirred to life as a guard finally realized someone was vandalizing the courtyard.

Red bolted inside the palace, grabbing an axe that she’d hidden in the nearby closet ages ago. She chopped down some portraits, grinning wildly. Oh, this was too! Fun!

♪Burn it down! Till all they’re seein’ is; Red, Red, Red, Red, Red.

Soldiers and guards marched through the halls, Red ducked back outside, hiding in the darker shadows of the courtyard as nearly a whole battalion of card soldiers came marching in, eyes peeled for their elusive criminal that had vandalized the castle town and palace itself more times than they could count!

Red grinned to herself, staying hidden in the shadows as she watched Jack of Diamonds—head of the guard, come marching in, looking quite peeved. Must’ve seen her masterpiece makeover of her mothers portrait.

“Soldiers—at the ready!” Jack of Diamonds bellowed, hand gripped tight to his sword. The card soldiers stood at attention, heads tipped high, their card symbols gleaming red under the streetlights. “You all know what will happen if we don’t capture this criminal, find them! The queen won't be as friendly as I if she finds out you failed!”

Jack of Diamonds said sharply, ordering soldiers in every direction of the courtyard to search for the rebel. Red scoffed, making sure her hood was up. Freaking jack. Such a royal butt-kisser, all the other soldiers too—so under her mother's thumb that they didn’t think for a second about what they were doing in her name.

♪It’s criminal how you follow the crown. Fists in the air, boots on the ground.

Red watched as soldiers began banging on doors of the castle town, searching for the rebel—she frowned, that wouldn’t do. she wouldn’t let any Castletown folks take the fall for her.  she grabbed her backpack and unzipped it, pulling out a handful of smoking and sparking firecrackers.

♪I hear the sound, and it’s getting loud—yelling; red, red, red.

Red lit up a handful and tossed it into the courtyard, right into the midst of a group of soldiers, who freaked out as the firecrackers exploded, sending smoke and card symbol sparks all over.

♪I’m breaking in, call the guards. Raise the alarm. Princess of hearts, lit after dark.

Jack of Diamonds rushed onto the scene, glaring as he looked for the perp. He looked up onto the wall of the courtyard, seeing a figure illuminated by the moon and the firecrackers. Red grinned in the shadow of her hood.

♪Off with their heads. Leave em’ for dead, seeing; red, red, red.

“Seize them!” Jack of Diamonds yelled, ordering soldiers after her. Red grinned, pulling a smoke bomb from her bag—swinging it back over her shoulder as she lit the fuse.

♪I’m on a path of destruction, they gon’ think I’m on one!

Red chucked the bomb down as soldiers ran across the wall towards her, and a cloud of pink blocked their view. Red ran for it, jumping across a gap from the courtyard wall and back out onto the castle town roofs.

♪Set it off! Go berserk! Tonight I light it up like fireworks! Tear it down, then paint this town; red, red, red, red.

Red jumped down into an alleyway, avoiding capture just barely—spotting a poster of her mother and tearing it down—a townie saw her and their eyes went wide, slamming their windows shut as Red ran out of the alleyway, throwing the poster in a guards face.

♪I don’t want my life ruled by some queen! Look into my eyes—see the fire in me!

 Red kept into the shadows and smoke, dodging and weaving through alleyways—avoiding capture by setting of firecrackers and smoke bombs, keeping herself just out of reach.

♪Burn it down! Till all they’re seeing is; Red, Red, Red, Red, Red.

Red slid into another alleyway, dipping into the shadows as the soldiers ran through the streets—looking for her.

♪Up all night! Right, left, right. Never question orders! Or we’ll pay the price. Protect the queen’s borders! Remember what she said. It’s either off with their heads or its off with our heads!

“Get them! Find them! Find them!” Jack of Diamonds yelled, spotlights turning on from the courtyard walls, turning towards the Castletown to help the guards look for their criminal.

Red clenched her jaw. Welp.

She readied another paint bomb, this one would explode in bright neon red.

♪She’s painting our whole world—she’s painting our whole world—she’s painting our whole world, Red!

Red chucked the paint bomb at the group of guards that had found her, including Jack of Diamonds. They all yelped as the bomb exploded, and paint went everywhere, blinding them and turning the deep red bricks of the townhouses neon red.

Red ran for it, dipping under Jack’s grip—yelping as he caught her backpack and she had to slip out of it to escape, cursing beneath her breath.

♪I don’t want my life ruled by some queen—look into my eyes, see the fire in me! burn it down! Till all they’re seeing now is; Red, Red, Red, Red, Red.

Red booked it back towards the palace, hoping to find some way back in, but all entrances were blocked, and there were soldiers everywhere.

“Off with her head!” She heard the guards cry, searching for her. Red cursed under her breath, frantically looking around—before she found a hidden lever in a wall, tagged with the mad-hatters 10/6. She yanked the lever, and a hidden hatch opened.

Hell yeah Maddox! She grabbed the edge of the hatch, and leapt inside—it was a slide, sending her down and helping her escape.

The guards arrived just where she’d been, but the hatch had closed, and the lever had slipped back into its hidden place, a hidden camera above blinking red.

“They’re gone!” A nine of spades yelled, and Jack of diamonds stared down at the bag in his hand, eyes narrowed.

=

Red squealed as she went down the twisting slide, it went round and round and another hatch opened up ahead—the tube sliding to the left, and Red slid right through it, going through a loop and then straight up, out of the slide on the other side, flipping in the air before landing on a giant, fluffy couch.

Red laughed, clapping as she sat up. “Oh, that was great!” she cackled, shuffling off the couch as Maddox Hatter, her tutor and the son of the Mad Hatter—though more of an inventor than a hat maker—huffed as he stepped away from the hidden camera screens.

“What were you thinking?! You could’ve been captured!” Maddox yelped, turning to Red with wide eyes. Red pursed her lips, shrugging.

“I was fiiine, and besides, I was thinking that the townspeople could use some inspiration~,” Red drawled, crossing her arms with a roll of her eyes. Then she smirked. “And my mom’s portrait hall needed a makeover,” She giggled, and Maddox groaned, looking at the cameras of the portrait hall, nearly all of them chopped in half from Red’s rampage.

“That was extremely dangerous Red, if I hadn’t activated the hatch—you would’ve been thrown in the dungeons, and we both know your mother wouldn’t go easy on you just because you’re her daughter!” Maddox said tightly, grabbing his topsy-turvy top hat, sliding it over his silver/purple hair.

“Oh please,” Red groaned, flopping sideways onto a chair as Maddox sighed, pinching his nose as Red kicked her feet up, taking off her white wig, revealing her long half-red, half-black curly hair. “I had it under control the whole time,”

“Indeed,” Maddox rolled his eyes. “Like you weren’t frantically looking for an escape,” he drawled, pouring some tea from a three-spouted teapot, which poured tea, sugar, and cream at the same time.

“Mustard?” Maddox asked, and Red shook her head.

“Not tonight, keeps me up,” Red said, taking the offered tea. Maddox snorted. “Like you don’t stay up late every night,” He teased, and Red rolled her eyes, taking an exaggerated sip of her tea.

“The nights the only freedom I get, otherwise it's just stupid future queen tyrant lessons,” Red grumbled, nabbing a cookie from the tray Maddox offered. Maddox looked playfully offended, being Red's main tutor.

“I’m teaching you how to be a tyrant? Red, you break my heart.” He gasped, holding his hand to his chest dramatically, and Red rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a laugh.

“Oh, shut up, you know who I meant, it’s all she wants. For me to be the next cruel queen of hearts, she doesn’t even care about what I want, or the people want,” Red grumbled, sinking deeper into the cushy chair.

She stared ahead at Maddox’s pile of inventions, knowing that beyond these walls—a life being under her mother's thumb, becoming the next queen of Hearts—modeled after her mother’s tyrant ways, awaited her with no apparent escape. “I just wish I had the chance to…do something about it.” Red whispered, huffing sadly as Maddox bit his inner lip.

“I may…have a solution to your maladies,” Maddox said, gesturing for Red to follow him. She stood—Curious. “Now, I wasn’t going to show you this, I've only just finished it, and it's for the White rabbit, but…” Maddox, with a flourish, pulled a red velvet fabric off an illuminated pedestal, revealing a pocket watch.

“…The white rabbit's pocket watch?” Red drawled, not getting it. Maddox smiled. “Yes, but now? A time machine,” Maddox whispered, selling the grandeur of the item. Red’s eyes went wide. No. way.

“It takes you to what your heart wants most, what the pocket watch believes you need most. For the white rabbit? He’ll never be late again, but…for you?...possibly a chance to change your fate,” Maddox said lightly, and Red stared at the pocket watch, before looking at Maddox.

“You really think I could?” She asked softly, and Maddox hummed, pursing his lips. “It could give you the chance, but—I warn you, Red, messing with time, could have disastrous consequences. You could lose everything, the kingdom, your mother.”

Red barely blinked. If changing her fate meant becoming a commoner and removing her mother from the throne? “I can live with that,” Red said, reaching for the pocket watch, but Maddox snatched it out from under her hand.

“I’m serious Red, time travel cannot be taken lightly, one single mistake could wipe so much of what you know out. One misstep, and you could disappear.” Red swallowed hard at his words, biting her inner lip as Maddox sighed, slipping the pocket watch into his jacket pocket.

“No, it is far too dangerous, I’m hesitant to even give to the white rabbit,” Maddox muttered, and Red sighed. “I appreciate the thought, Maddox…thanks, you’re a good tutor,” Red murmured, hugging him, and he sighed.

“And I thought I was your friend?” he teased, and Red snorted. “Give me an A in Wonderland History, and I might change my mind?” Red grinned, and Maddox shook his head. That was her worst subject. “I don’t take bribes,” Maddox said, patting the top of her head as Red stepped back, turning as the march of card soldiers echoed just outside the workshop doors.

“Better get going, it would be off with my head if I'm caught harboring a fugitive,” Maddox said as Red grabbed her wig, grinning.

“Got a quick way back to my room?” She asked, and Maddox laughed, flipping a switch on his control board, and a hatch opened beneath Red’s feet—she squealed as she was sent straight down onto a slide, taking her through several twists and turns to her room.

Maddox sighed, sipping his tea, unaware of the missing weight from his pocket.

Red laughed and squealed again, a hatch opened in her room and spat Red out—she flipped in the air, landing on her bed with a cushioned thump. She let out a breathless laugh, clapping once before sitting up, withdrawing the pocket watch from her pocket.

Red stared at it. Takes me back to what I need most, she thought, hovering her thumb over the crown. One misstep, and I could be erased. She moved her thumb away and set the pocket watch aside, getting ready for bed.

Not today. She had to make a plan.

-End of Chapter one-

i had a lot of fun writing this, more to come! i also have a Maddox Hatter redesign in wip mode so, that coming soon too, after i finish up my work week!

@kipperlillyanti