Art commissions, Thomas Doherty fanfics, good shit

“Uh…” Red mumbled, spinning in place. Woah, Auradon Prep looked different…too different, Red had only wanted to go back only a few minutes—snatch her mother's cards, but…

It didn’t even look like they were in Auradon Prep anymore; the whole courtyard had changed. Gone were the Auradon Prep banners, and the Queen Belle hand-picked flowers; now the courtyard was empty of Auradon kingdom decor, replaced with a huge tree in the corner and—pixies?

“Woah,” Red muttered, looking around at the soft floating pixies that flew around the courtyard, many floating around a glowing pond.

“Focus!” Chloe snapped, and Red’s eyes snapped to her. right!

“Sorry—” Red stuttered, and Chloe bit her inner lips.

“What did you do?! Where are we?! Where did everyone go and—my mom!” Chloe asked rapidly, and Red held up her hands.

“This wasn’t my intention!” Red blurted out. “This thing is a time machine,” She gestured to the pocket watch. “It's supposed to take you to when you need most, and I was trying to go back minutes to take my mom's cards, but—” she gestured around. “I think…I don’t even know when we are anymore.” Red said, almost sounding defeated, distressed.

Chloe narrowed her eyes, and then remembered how Red had stood up to her mom, and let her shoulders drop. This mishap was not an act of malice, just an attempt to help that got thrown into chaos.

“Okay, well—” Chloe began, thinking hard, trying to see if she saw anything she knew from the history books. A sweet, kinda familiar(to Chloe at least), voice rang out from a nearby corridor to their left, and the girls turned to see a young woman in a periwinkle cloak, racing after a…living gourd of some kind.

“Oh dear me, oh dear me—come back!” the young woman cried. She was sparkling, glitter all over her eyes with pretty makeup, and jewelry in her dark hair that was in a curled updo.

Chloe blinked.

Yeah, that had to be her, pre-fairy godmother status. “That’s…FG,” Chloe said quietly, watching the young version of her great fairy godmother race through the courtyard now, chasing after the huge squash that juked her at the last second and was now skittering toward Red and Chloe.

Red backed up, she was used to Wonderland chaos, but this was fae magic, not whatever Wonderland magic was powered by. Chloe didn’t flinch, lifting her boot and holding it out to the side, and the squash tripped and tumbled, making the oddest sound.

Red snorted.

“Oh—thank you!” Young FG gasped for breath as she approached. She looked to be in her mid-20s, but gave off the air of being much older than she looked. “I was practicing my animation charms, and the rotten thing got away from me!” Young FG said, scooping up the squirming gourd—drawing a thin silver wand from her pocket and tapping it, it stilled—and faded into a very normal unanimated squash.

Red stared, lip quirking. “How do you manage to let a squash get away from you?” Red snorted, and Chloe hissed out Red’s name through her teeth as FG worried at her bottom lip.

“I—it’s a complicated charm; I haven’t got it quite down yet,” Young FG said meekly, reminding Chloe of how Jane was when she was younger, the both of them. It seemed young FG was quite shy and insecure when she was young and a learning fairy.

“Seriously?” Red snorted again, and young FG frowned deeper, pursing her lips. “Isn’t that like, beginner stuff?” Red asked, not meaning any harm, but…she wasn’t very good with words, or people. Blame her mom.

Young FG took a breath and didn’t bid either girl goodbye, simply turning on her heel and leaving.

“Red, seriously?” Chloe hissed beneath her breath as they both watched young FG hurry away, shoulders scrunched up. “What was that about?”

“Sorry?” Red said, shrugging. She had pretty much no filter, especially when not around her mom. Something about the lack of pressure made her say things she didn’t actually mean. Chloe huffed, releasing her sword handle for the first time since arriving in this strange time.

“So, with that,” Chloe gestured to where young FG had run off to. “we’re for sure in the past, just…how far?” Chloe mumbled and Red frowned.

“What do you mean? Fairy godmother is like, fifty-something?? And she looks to be 20-something now?” Red asked and Chloe shook her head, knowing far more about her great fairy godmother.

“FG’s a fairy, remember? They don’t age like we do, and her type ages depends on how they feel about themselves. Right now, FG’s shy and unsure, learning still, so she’s young and inexperienced, get it?” Chloe explained, and Red slowly nodded.

The girls stared at each other, and then Chloe sighed. “Whatever, how about we go back now—stop your mom before she even tries?” Chloe asked, pointing at the pocket watch, and Red glanced down at it.

“I’m honestly not sure if this thing works that way, it sent us here for a reason—so,” she held the pocket watch out of reach as Chloe groaned, frustrated and afraid for her mother's fate, and tried to snatch the pocket watch. “Hey! Don’t be so grabby grabby,” Red huffed, and Chloe glared.

“I need to get back to my mom, so why don’t you—wind that clock forward and get us back to Auradon prep,” Chloe snapped, and Red huffed, fine. Whatever.

She stepped closer to Chloe, wrapping the chain around their hands and pressed the crown. The pocket watch hissed, sputtered, and sparked, and then…nothing.

“What?” Chloe whispered, horrified as Red turned the watch over, and opened the back. “Jammed,” Red groaned, looking at the purple jam that had appeared between the grooves of the gears.

“…Is this wonderland nonsense?” Chloe asked weakly, and Red nodded, groaning.

“Yep. Gears are jammed, and I don’t know how to fix this thing, we’re stuck!” Red said, frustrated, running her hands through her hair as Chloe stared blankly at the pocket watch.

“Mom,” She whispered, and Red looked at her, frowning. She reached out, gently touching Chloe’s wrist, whose lip wobbled.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get back, somehow, and stop my mom, and save yours, I promise.” Red said earnestly. “I won’t let her destroy Auradon,” Chloe stared at Red, and then sighed, straightening up and squaring her shoulders.

“Fine. We’ll…work together, find out when we are, find someone to fix the pocket watch, and then go back, and save Auradon and my mom.” Chloe said as Red closed the pocket watch and pocketed it. She had to admit, Chloe had a good head on her shoulders; if Red was in her place—she’d probably be a hot mess.

The girls left the courtyard together, walking through this strange—past version of Auradon prep castle grounds, which didn’t seem to be Auradon at all. Surprisingly, they passed by some other teenagers, some oddly familiar(to Chloe), some unrecognizable(for Red, who barely knew wonderland history, let alone Auradon history).

They walked down what would become the front gardens of Auradon prep, it was far more lush in the past, with magical flowers that nipped at Red’s heels, hedges that seemed to breathe and exhale glittery pollen, and dancing petals from overhead flowers.

They reached a large sign, and Chloe jogged forward to read it. “Merlin Academy,” She read, wondering why that was familiar before it hit her. “Oh! My mom said she used to go here! Before Auradon became Auradon!” Red frowned, joining Chloe and reading the sign too.

Merlin Academy est. 705.

Red blinked. They couldn’t be that far back, could they?

“Hopefully were not too far back,” Chloe murmured, looking around for any clues. “Auradon was created in 1995 CAE,” Red’s blank look made Chloe snort and explain further. “After the merging of all the kingdoms; they decided on a combined calendar year since they were all from different eras. My mom was from the 1800s before Fairy Godmother and King Beast invited her and dad to join Auradon; they said yes, of course, and boom, current Auradon era.” Chloe rambled.

Red stared, blinking slowly. Most of those words went in one ear and out the other, but she tried to make it at least seem like she was paying attention. “When was your mom from?” Chloe asked and Red could only shrug.

“Dunno, Wonderland time is wacky, sometimes it’s the 3rd century, sometimes the 17th, it only caught up with overlands era after mom came back from the isle, I was actually born before Auradon got made,” Red said and Chloe’s brows rose in interest.

“But, you’re my age?” Chloe guessed, and Red nodded with another shrug.

“Wonderland,” Red said, as if that was explanation enough. And it was, even though it made no sense. But hey, wonderland.

“So, history buff, when do you think we are?” Red asked as they turned and began to enter the school, passing by a huge oak tree that rested in the middle of the front yard, where King Beasts' statue would be in the future.

“I could not tell you,” Chloe said, agonizingly. “I haven’t seen anything…marking when we are—oh!” Chloe gasped, the two entered the common room of the castle, where many students resided between classes. Chloe had seen a poster.

For castle coming.

“Castlecoming!” Chloe gasped, jogging forward, Red followed behind, feeling out of place in a castle she hadn’t even been able to call home before being thrown into a version of it that hadn’t existed in years.

“Castlecoming?” Red asked with a drawl, crossing her arms as they looked at the enchanted poster, watching as sparkling fireworks danced in the posters night sky above the glittering castle, one that felt familiar to Chloe.

“Yeah, it was a big thing, back before Auradon combined all the kingdoms; it’s a celebration of heirs coming of age. My dad had his in 1889…” Chloe trailed off, seeing the date of castle coming for this year.

1889 Castlecoming celebration!

Castlecoming on April 24th, in celebration of Prince Christopher Charming becoming of age to rule his kingdom.

All eligible maidens are invited to attend by order of King Frederick Chadshire Maximillian Othello Charming.

Red rose her brows. Long ass name. “Your grandfather?” Red asked Chloe, who smiled and nodded—very warmly and fondly.

“Yeah, and if you think his name is long, you should see my brothers,” Chloe snorted, the two girls momentarily forgetting their earlier tension. Red leaned into Chloe’s view, pouting a little in pleading. Chloe grinned, she never passed up an opportunity to bully her brother. Even when he wasn’t here.

“Chadwick Chadsworth Chaddock Chadshire Chadley Charles Othello Octavius Amal Leopold Maximus charming,” Chloe recited, perfect and princess-like—puffing out her chest and Red held back a snort, and then let out a cackling laugh—quick and hard and Chloe giggled too.

“Who cursed him??” Red laughed, and Chloe pointed at the poster.

“Grandpa, he had a thing for overly royally long names, says it’s tradition,” Chloe said with a fond roll of her eyes. “Chad was his first grandchild, and my grandpa loves us, spoiled Chad rotten,”

“Chadwick you mean,” Red grinned, and Chloe snickered again. “Do you have a long name like that?” Red asked, Chloe shook her head…too quick. Red grinned. “You dooo, tell me.” Red demanded, and Chloe kept firm. “c’mon I let you behead my mom instead,”

Both girls froze, quickly remembering where they were, and why they were here. “I’ll keep you on that if things don’t go right,” Chloe murmured, and Red nodded, sobering from their bout of giggles.

“So we’re in 1889, so my parents are here, and…wait—wait wait—my mom said your mom went to school with her, here.” Chloe said, eyes widening; Red’s did too, remembering her mom’s strange behavior and words towards Cinderella, and how—hurt, she seemed, beneath all the malice.

“My mom did mention something about, being humiliated, and your mom abandoning her when she needed her most, going off with her prince…do you think?” Red trailed off, gesturing to the poster, and Chloe pursed her lips.

“I mean…I’m not sure, we need more information,” Chloe said and Red nodded, the two continued through the common room. A bell rang, and students behind them dispersed and began heading off to their different classes.

The girls stepped up into an atrium, admiring the décor of the castle—it changed a lot once it became Auradon prep, it used to contain way more archaic-style architecture. A voice called from above, and they looked up—seeing a very old, kooky yet wise-looking wizard. Pointy blue hat and all.

“Right on schedule, you two,” The old wizard said, his white mustache wriggling as he looked down at them, long white brows raised as he peered down at them through his round gold glasses with a twinkle in his eye.

“Right on schedule?” Red murmured as Chloe gasped—she knew this guy!

“Yes, yes, I quite knew I’d have two out-of-time students popping in today and you two,” he checked his pocket watch—the thing modern for what was apparently the late 1800s. “are right on time.” Red blinked, Chloe grinned.

Merlin gave a sniffle and a small grumble, pocketing his watch again, turning his gaze to them. “Now, what sort’ve business have you got in the past?” Chloe went to answer, but…well, they didn’t really…know why the watch sent them back to this time.

Plus Red elbowed her. “Don’t go blabbering,” Red grumbled, and Chloe rolled her eyes.

“That’s Is Merlin Red, greatest wizard in the last couple centuries?” Chloe said as Merlin descended from the walkway above to join the girls in the atrium. “He’s a soothsayer; he can see the future. No point in trying to trick him,” Red pursed her lips but crossed her arms as Chloe turned to Merlin.

“We got caught up in a coup, staged by the Queen of Hearts, and Red has a time-traveling pocket watch—we tried to go back but—it got…” Chloe trailed off and Red reluctantly pulled out the pocket watch, jam leaking out the back.

“Jammed,” Merlin finished, stroking his beard, staring intently at the pocket watch. “Wonderland nonsense?” Merlin asked, and Red furrowed her brows, nodding. “I know just the student to help fix it, but for now, I suspect you two may wish to blend in. and perhaps discover exactly how to save your mothers, both of them.” Merlin said, and the girls blinked.

Red wanted to ask more, ask how he knew so much, but Merlin pulled out a scroll from his beard, it rolled out—long—the girls jumped apart as it rolled between them and spanned outwards several feet. “yes yes, I see, perfect. Ms,” he trailed off, looking at Chloe.

“Chloe Charming,” Chloe said with pride and Merlin’s eye twinkled. “Perhaps better to use a different last name, if it comes up, my dear.” Merlin said kindly, and Chloe sheepishly grinned, but nodded. “You’ll go off to our fencing class; Archimedes will guide you.”

The girls tilted their heads, who was Archimedes? As if Merlin heard their thoughts, he lifted his pointy hat, revealing a sleeping owl on his head.

“Archimedes,” Merlin said, tapping the owl. The owl snorted, making a smacking sound as he woke. “Up, you old bird, there is someone who needs your assistance.”

“What—what what?” The owl said, and Red blinked. Okay, the bird talked. She was used to talking animals, Wonderland nonsense and all, but she didn’t expect that here. “What do you want old man?” Archimedes said grumpily, fluffing his feathers.

“I need you to escort Ms. Chloe to the fencing hall, if you don’t mind,” Merlin said, and Archimedes ruffled up and sighed. “All right then, follow me girl, this way!” The owl spread his wings and took off, Chloe gave a glance at Red and hurried after him—sword clanking at her side.

Red looked back at Merlin, whose mustache curled in a smile. “And you, will follow me Ms…” Merlin trailed off, and Red worked her jaw a little. “Red, just Red.” Red mumbled, and Merlin nodded, waving for her to follow, and she did; following him through grand hallways and up several flights of stairs.

Until they reached a giant kitchen, with multiple islands, stoves, pans, pots, tools, and ingredients. Red leaned back to peer at the plaque on the door. ‘Spelltacular Baking and Pastry Arts’. Red raised her brow, why would Merlin put her in here?? Red very much did not give off the air of pastry master, or even cooking in general.

Red burned water once.

She stood up straight again as she followed him further into the room—bringing her to the front of class, where all the other students were at their stations, putting on aprons and grabbing magical cookbooks. “Students, we have a new wart joining us today,” Red curled her lip at the nickname, but had a feeling that was he called all his pupils. “Ms. Red. Now I expect you all to be welcoming to her! Now, Red, you can join Ms. Bridget, and Ms. Ella, my two best. Go on.” Merlin gestured her over to the station on the far left.

The names hit her like a truck—but maybe that was just a coincidence? Red looked to where he was pointing, seeing two girls. One dressed in pink, the other in blue. One had dark hair with pink highlights, the other with blue glitter tinsel in her dark very curly hair—much like her older self and daughter had.

Both smiled at her.

Red went wide-eyed.

It was her mother, and Cinderella, except, much her age and…

Friends??

“Hi! I’m Bridget Hearts, it’s so nice to meet you!” Her young mother said with a big smile while Ella smiled, calmer but just as sweet. Red blinked.

Okay, she didn’t know if she could do this.

-end of p4-

Yeah, I cut Fight of Our Lives. What of it? It didn't fit with my version of the girls, and I couldn't figure out how to--jimmie it till it fit, so, no Fight of Our Lives. Hope you enjoyed!

“Uh…” Red mumbled, spinning in place. Woah, Auradon Prep looked different…too different, Red had only wanted to go back only a few minutes—snatch her mother's cards, but…

It didn’t even look like they were in Auradon Prep anymore; the whole courtyard had changed. Gone were the Auradon Prep banners, and the Queen Belle hand-picked flowers; now the courtyard was empty of Auradon kingdom decor, replaced with a huge tree in the corner and—pixies?

“Woah,” Red muttered, looking around at the soft floating pixies that flew around the courtyard, many floating around a glowing pond.

“Focus!” Chloe snapped, and Red’s eyes snapped to her. right!

“Sorry—” Red stuttered, and Chloe bit her inner lips.

“What did you do?! Where are we?! Where did everyone go and—my mom!” Chloe asked rapidly, and Red held up her hands.

“This wasn’t my intention!” Red blurted out. “This thing is a time machine,” She gestured to the pocket watch. “It's supposed to take you to when you need most, and I was trying to go back minutes to take my mom's cards, but—” she gestured around. “I think…I don’t even know when we are anymore.” Red said, almost sounding defeated, distressed.

Chloe narrowed her eyes, and then remembered how Red had stood up to her mom, and let her shoulders drop. This mishap was not an act of malice, just an attempt to help that got thrown into chaos.

“Okay, well—” Chloe began, thinking hard, trying to see if she saw anything she knew from the history books. A sweet, kinda familiar(to Chloe at least), voice rang out from a nearby corridor to their left, and the girls turned to see a young woman in a periwinkle cloak, racing after a…living gourd of some kind.

“Oh dear me, oh dear me—come back!” the young woman cried. She was sparkling, glitter all over her eyes with pretty makeup, and jewelry in her dark hair that was in a curled updo.

Chloe blinked.

Yeah, that had to be her, pre-fairy godmother status. “That’s…FG,” Chloe said quietly, watching the young version of her great fairy godmother race through the courtyard now, chasing after the huge squash that juked her at the last second and was now skittering toward Red and Chloe.

Red backed up, she was used to Wonderland chaos, but this was fae magic, not whatever Wonderland magic was powered by. Chloe didn’t flinch, lifting her boot and holding it out to the side, and the squash tripped and tumbled, making the oddest sound.

Red snorted.

“Oh—thank you!” Young FG gasped for breath as she approached. She looked to be in her mid-20s, but gave off the air of being much older than she looked. “I was practicing my animation charms, and the rotten thing got away from me!” Young FG said, scooping up the squirming gourd—drawing a thin silver wand from her pocket and tapping it, it stilled—and faded into a very normal unanimated squash.

Red stared, lip quirking. “How do you manage to let a squash get away from you?” Red snorted, and Chloe hissed out Red’s name through her teeth as FG worried at her bottom lip.

“I—it’s a complicated charm; I haven’t got it quite down yet,” Young FG said meekly, reminding Chloe of how Jane was when she was younger, the both of them. It seemed young FG was quite shy and insecure when she was young and a learning fairy.

“Seriously?” Red snorted again, and young FG frowned deeper, pursing her lips. “Isn’t that like, beginner stuff?” Red asked, not meaning any harm, but…she wasn’t very good with words, or people. Blame her mom.

Young FG took a breath and didn’t bid either girl goodbye, simply turning on her heel and leaving.

“Red, seriously?” Chloe hissed beneath her breath as they both watched young FG hurry away, shoulders scrunched up. “What was that about?”

“Sorry?” Red said, shrugging. She had pretty much no filter, especially when not around her mom. Something about the lack of pressure made her say things she didn’t actually mean. Chloe huffed, releasing her sword handle for the first time since arriving in this strange time.

“So, with that,” Chloe gestured to where young FG had run off to. “we’re for sure in the past, just…how far?” Chloe mumbled and Red frowned.

“What do you mean? Fairy godmother is like, fifty-something?? And she looks to be 20-something now?” Red asked and Chloe shook her head, knowing far more about her great fairy godmother.

“FG’s a fairy, remember? They don’t age like we do, and her type ages depends on how they feel about themselves. Right now, FG’s shy and unsure, learning still, so she’s young and inexperienced, get it?” Chloe explained, and Red slowly nodded.

The girls stared at each other, and then Chloe sighed. “Whatever, how about we go back now—stop your mom before she even tries?” Chloe asked, pointing at the pocket watch, and Red glanced down at it.

“I’m honestly not sure if this thing works that way, it sent us here for a reason—so,” she held the pocket watch out of reach as Chloe groaned, frustrated and afraid for her mother's fate, and tried to snatch the pocket watch. “Hey! Don’t be so grabby grabby,” Red huffed, and Chloe glared.

“I need to get back to my mom, so why don’t you—wind that clock forward and get us back to Auradon prep,” Chloe snapped, and Red huffed, fine. Whatever.

She stepped closer to Chloe, wrapping the chain around their hands and pressed the crown. The pocket watch hissed, sputtered, and sparked, and then…nothing.

“What?” Chloe whispered, horrified as Red turned the watch over, and opened the back. “Jammed,” Red groaned, looking at the purple jam that had appeared between the grooves of the gears.

“…Is this wonderland nonsense?” Chloe asked weakly, and Red nodded, groaning.

“Yep. Gears are jammed, and I don’t know how to fix this thing, we’re stuck!” Red said, frustrated, running her hands through her hair as Chloe stared blankly at the pocket watch.

“Mom,” She whispered, and Red looked at her, frowning. She reached out, gently touching Chloe’s wrist, whose lip wobbled.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get back, somehow, and stop my mom, and save yours, I promise.” Red said earnestly. “I won’t let her destroy Auradon,” Chloe stared at Red, and then sighed, straightening up and squaring her shoulders.

“Fine. We’ll…work together, find out when we are, find someone to fix the pocket watch, and then go back, and save Auradon and my mom.” Chloe said as Red closed the pocket watch and pocketed it. She had to admit, Chloe had a good head on her shoulders; if Red was in her place—she’d probably be a hot mess.

The girls left the courtyard together, walking through this strange—past version of Auradon prep castle grounds, which didn’t seem to be Auradon at all. Surprisingly, they passed by some other teenagers, some oddly familiar(to Chloe), some unrecognizable(for Red, who barely knew wonderland history, let alone Auradon history).

They walked down what would become the front gardens of Auradon prep, it was far more lush in the past, with magical flowers that nipped at Red’s heels, hedges that seemed to breathe and exhale glittery pollen, and dancing petals from overhead flowers.

They reached a large sign, and Chloe jogged forward to read it. “Merlin Academy,” She read, wondering why that was familiar before it hit her. “Oh! My mom said she used to go here! Before Auradon became Auradon!” Red frowned, joining Chloe and reading the sign too.

Merlin Academy est. 705.

Red blinked. They couldn’t be that far back, could they?

“Hopefully were not too far back,” Chloe murmured, looking around for any clues. “Auradon was created in 1995 CAE,” Red’s blank look made Chloe snort and explain further. “After the merging of all the kingdoms; they decided on a combined calendar year since they were all from different eras. My mom was from the 1800s before Fairy Godmother and King Beast invited her and dad to join Auradon; they said yes, of course, and boom, current Auradon era.” Chloe rambled.

Red stared, blinking slowly. Most of those words went in one ear and out the other, but she tried to make it at least seem like she was paying attention. “When was your mom from?” Chloe asked and Red could only shrug.

“Dunno, Wonderland time is wacky, sometimes it’s the 3rd century, sometimes the 17th, it only caught up with overlands era after mom came back from the isle, I was actually born before Auradon got made,” Red said and Chloe’s brows rose in interest.

“But, you’re my age?” Chloe guessed, and Red nodded with another shrug.

“Wonderland,” Red said, as if that was explanation enough. And it was, even though it made no sense. But hey, wonderland.

“So, history buff, when do you think we are?” Red asked as they turned and began to enter the school, passing by a huge oak tree that rested in the middle of the front yard, where King Beasts' statue would be in the future.

“I could not tell you,” Chloe said, agonizingly. “I haven’t seen anything…marking when we are—oh!” Chloe gasped, the two entered the common room of the castle, where many students resided between classes. Chloe had seen a poster.

For castle coming.

“Castlecoming!” Chloe gasped, jogging forward, Red followed behind, feeling out of place in a castle she hadn’t even been able to call home before being thrown into a version of it that hadn’t existed in years.

“Castlecoming?” Red asked with a drawl, crossing her arms as they looked at the enchanted poster, watching as sparkling fireworks danced in the posters night sky above the glittering castle, one that felt familiar to Chloe.

“Yeah, it was a big thing, back before Auradon combined all the kingdoms; it’s a celebration of heirs coming of age. My dad had his in 1889…” Chloe trailed off, seeing the date of castle coming for this year.

1889 Castlecoming celebration!

Castlecoming on April 24th, in celebration of Prince Christopher Charming becoming of age to rule his kingdom.

All eligible maidens are invited to attend by order of King Frederick Chadshire Maximillian Othello Charming.

Red rose her brows. Long ass name. “Your grandfather?” Red asked Chloe, who smiled and nodded—very warmly and fondly.

“Yeah, and if you think his name is long, you should see my brothers,” Chloe snorted, the two girls momentarily forgetting their earlier tension. Red leaned into Chloe’s view, pouting a little in pleading. Chloe grinned, she never passed up an opportunity to bully her brother. Even when he wasn’t here.

“Chadwick Chadsworth Chaddock Chadshire Chadley Charles Othello Octavius Amal Leopold Maximus charming,” Chloe recited, perfect and princess-like—puffing out her chest and Red held back a snort, and then let out a cackling laugh—quick and hard and Chloe giggled too.

“Who cursed him??” Red laughed, and Chloe pointed at the poster.

“Grandpa, he had a thing for overly royally long names, says it’s tradition,” Chloe said with a fond roll of her eyes. “Chad was his first grandchild, and my grandpa loves us, spoiled Chad rotten,”

“Chadwick you mean,” Red grinned, and Chloe snickered again. “Do you have a long name like that?” Red asked, Chloe shook her head…too quick. Red grinned. “You dooo, tell me.” Red demanded, and Chloe kept firm. “c’mon I let you behead my mom instead,”

Both girls froze, quickly remembering where they were, and why they were here. “I’ll keep you on that if things don’t go right,” Chloe murmured, and Red nodded, sobering from their bout of giggles.

“So we’re in 1889, so my parents are here, and…wait—wait wait—my mom said your mom went to school with her, here.” Chloe said, eyes widening; Red’s did too, remembering her mom’s strange behavior and words towards Cinderella, and how—hurt, she seemed, beneath all the malice.

“My mom did mention something about, being humiliated, and your mom abandoning her when she needed her most, going off with her prince…do you think?” Red trailed off, gesturing to the poster, and Chloe pursed her lips.

“I mean…I’m not sure, we need more information,” Chloe said and Red nodded, the two continued through the common room. A bell rang, and students behind them dispersed and began heading off to their different classes.

The girls stepped up into an atrium, admiring the décor of the castle—it changed a lot once it became Auradon prep, it used to contain way more archaic-style architecture. A voice called from above, and they looked up—seeing a very old, kooky yet wise-looking wizard. Pointy blue hat and all.

“Right on schedule, you two,” The old wizard said, his white mustache wriggling as he looked down at them, long white brows raised as he peered down at them through his round gold glasses with a twinkle in his eye.

“Right on schedule?” Red murmured as Chloe gasped—she knew this guy!

“Yes, yes, I quite knew I’d have two out-of-time students popping in today and you two,” he checked his pocket watch—the thing modern for what was apparently the late 1800s. “are right on time.” Red blinked, Chloe grinned.

Merlin gave a sniffle and a small grumble, pocketing his watch again, turning his gaze to them. “Now, what sort’ve business have you got in the past?” Chloe went to answer, but…well, they didn’t really…know why the watch sent them back to this time.

Plus Red elbowed her. “Don’t go blabbering,” Red grumbled, and Chloe rolled her eyes.

“That’s Is Merlin Red, greatest wizard in the last couple centuries?” Chloe said as Merlin descended from the walkway above to join the girls in the atrium. “He’s a soothsayer; he can see the future. No point in trying to trick him,” Red pursed her lips but crossed her arms as Chloe turned to Merlin.

“We got caught up in a coup, staged by the Queen of Hearts, and Red has a time-traveling pocket watch—we tried to go back but—it got…” Chloe trailed off and Red reluctantly pulled out the pocket watch, jam leaking out the back.

“Jammed,” Merlin finished, stroking his beard, staring intently at the pocket watch. “Wonderland nonsense?” Merlin asked, and Red furrowed her brows, nodding. “I know just the student to help fix it, but for now, I suspect you two may wish to blend in. and perhaps discover exactly how to save your mothers, both of them.” Merlin said, and the girls blinked.

Red wanted to ask more, ask how he knew so much, but Merlin pulled out a scroll from his beard, it rolled out—long—the girls jumped apart as it rolled between them and spanned outwards several feet. “yes yes, I see, perfect. Ms,” he trailed off, looking at Chloe.

“Chloe Charming,” Chloe said with pride and Merlin’s eye twinkled. “Perhaps better to use a different last name, if it comes up, my dear.” Merlin said kindly, and Chloe sheepishly grinned, but nodded. “You’ll go off to our fencing class; Archimedes will guide you.”

The girls tilted their heads, who was Archimedes? As if Merlin heard their thoughts, he lifted his pointy hat, revealing a sleeping owl on his head.

“Archimedes,” Merlin said, tapping the owl. The owl snorted, making a smacking sound as he woke. “Up, you old bird, there is someone who needs your assistance.”

“What—what what?” The owl said, and Red blinked. Okay, the bird talked. She was used to talking animals, Wonderland nonsense and all, but she didn’t expect that here. “What do you want old man?” Archimedes said grumpily, fluffing his feathers.

“I need you to escort Ms. Chloe to the fencing hall, if you don’t mind,” Merlin said, and Archimedes ruffled up and sighed. “All right then, follow me girl, this way!” The owl spread his wings and took off, Chloe gave a glance at Red and hurried after him—sword clanking at her side.

Red looked back at Merlin, whose mustache curled in a smile. “And you, will follow me Ms…” Merlin trailed off, and Red worked her jaw a little. “Red, just Red.” Red mumbled, and Merlin nodded, waving for her to follow, and she did; following him through grand hallways and up several flights of stairs.

Until they reached a giant kitchen, with multiple islands, stoves, pans, pots, tools, and ingredients. Red leaned back to peer at the plaque on the door. ‘Spelltacular Baking and Pastry Arts’. Red raised her brow, why would Merlin put her in here?? Red very much did not give off the air of pastry master, or even cooking in general.

Red burned water once.

She stood up straight again as she followed him further into the room—bringing her to the front of class, where all the other students were at their stations, putting on aprons and grabbing magical cookbooks. “Students, we have a new wart joining us today,” Red curled her lip at the nickname, but had a feeling that was he called all his pupils. “Ms. Red. Now I expect you all to be welcoming to her! Now, Red, you can join Ms. Bridget, and Ms. Ella, my two best. Go on.” Merlin gestured her over to the station on the far left.

The names hit her like a truck—but maybe that was just a coincidence? Red looked to where he was pointing, seeing two girls. One dressed in pink, the other in blue. One had dark hair with pink highlights, the other with blue glitter tinsel in her dark very curly hair—much like her older self and daughter had.

Both smiled at her.

Red went wide-eyed.

It was her mother, and Cinderella, except, much her age and…

Friends??

“Hi! I’m Bridget Hearts, it’s so nice to meet you!” Her young mother said with a big smile while Ella smiled, calmer but just as sweet. Red blinked.

Okay, she didn’t know if she could do this.

-end of p4-

Yeah, I cut Fight of Our Lives. What of it? It didn't fit with my version of the girls, and I couldn't figure out how to--jimmie it till it fit, so, no Fight of Our Lives. Hope you enjoyed!