Pure Freedom

You can find

What could’ve happened at Castlecoming Week here (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

and

What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball here (Part 1, Part 2)

Bridget stood in the silence of her room, the echoes of Ella’s footsteps fading away. The door clicked shut, sealing off the world outside. She felt a strange mixture of relief and emptiness wash over her. The confrontation had been therapeutic yet painful, a reminder of everything she had lost. 

Still, a feeling of betrayal made her clench her fist and lightly pounded on the door. Kneeling in front of it, tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop a reminder of the hurt she felt. The heavy weight of grief made her breathing shaky.

A glimmer of the jeweled pocket mirror caught Bridget’s attention as it lay on the floor. With desperation and sadness, she pulled the Looking Glass closer. It reminded her of the past, the lost hopes, and the entirely different future she could’ve had.

If she hadn’t been so optimistic and used it, would she have avoided the fate that had befallen her? Would she be celebrating instead of drowning in sorrow? Her mind swirled with painful “what ifs,” each thought a sharp sting against her heart. What if Ella hasn't left her side? What if Hook never offered to dance with her? What if she hadn't offered Uliana the flamingo cupcake days ago? 

As she stared into the Looking Glass, memories of the Castlecoming Ball flooded back, particularly the moment she isolated herself after the prank. 

~~~

After Hook turned her back to normal, Bridget rushed back to her dorm room, her heart racing with a mix of relief and confusion. The click of the door echoed in the silence as she spread her arms wide, letting herself fall onto her cozy bed. The bed felt soft yet foreign, enveloping her in an unsettling comfort.

She buried her face in the pillows, inhaling their familiar scent. The familiar scent of her pillows brought a fleeting sense of safety, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. The laughter and music from the ball seemed like a distant memory, overshadowed by the humiliation she had faced.

As she lay there, the Looking Glass glinted in the dim light, catching her attention. She picked it up, her fingers trembling slightly. What if she had a glimpse of her future? Would it show her how to escape this nightmare? But what if looking into her future would cause her more pain?

She debated within herself. The Looking Glass—a family heirloom—has been passed down from one generation to another but there her mother rarely used it. There were also stories (historical records) that the Looking Glass doesn’t always show the right future. If she were to use it right now, would she be able to avoid it if the Looking Glass showed an unpleasant future?

With a deep breath, she held the glass to her face, whispering a silent wish for clarity. The surface shimmered a flicker of light—a vision of herself, standing strong and confident, her hair no longer pink but crimson—blood red. The image then twisted, darkening into a scene of isolation and despair as she saw the border to Wonderland being closed off as if echoing her current reality of being isolated from the rest.

Bridget’s heart sank. Was this really her fate? Would she remain trapped in this cycle of hurt, betrayal, and isolation? But that wouldn’t matter eventually, right? She saw a strong and powerful Bridget that could hold off on her own. 

Even if she saw what she liked, anger still bubbled within her. It quickly morphed into something darker—a creeping madness that whispered insidious thoughts into her mind. Her thoughts spiraled into self-loathing, questioning her worth and feeling betrayed by those she trusted. The thought of her always being the outsider.

A fog of voices began to swirl around her, echoing her self-doubt and despair. 

“You’re so gullible,” one sneered. 

“You’ll always be alone,” another hissed. 

“Even your so-called friend didn't want you.” 

The shouts grew louder, drowning out her thoughts, and she pressed her hands to her ears, desperate for silence.

“Just embrace us,” one suggested 

“You’ll need us.”

Not taking these ramblings any longer, she stood up. Her eyes wildly glowing red. The room felt like it was closing in on her. She needed to release this energy, this pain. Her gaze landed on a shadow near the lamp. Without thinking, she reached for her deck of cards, feeling the power thrumming beneath her skin. Her body trembled with energy coursing through her veins, her skin tingling as if charged with static.

With a flick of her wrist, the cards flew from her hand, striking the lamp with a sharp crack. The sound of shattering glass was a symphony of chaos that resonated deep within her. Each crack felt like a release of pent-up frustration. As the shards scattered across the floor, a wave of relief washed over her, momentarily drowning out the voices in her head.

Feeling the surge of power, Bridget picked up one of her cards. Analyzing it, she ran her index finger to its edges. The card became sharp as a knife and sliced through her finger. The sharp sting of the card slicing through her skin sent a jolt of shock through her. As she dropped the card, her blood welled up, warm and vivid against her pale skin. As she stared intently at the blood, the voices started ringing again in her ears.  

Unlike earlier, the voices only grew louder, more insistent. 

“You should have escaped this place,” they taunted. 

“Naive little princess.”

“Watch who you trust, princess.” 

Bridget’s nails dug into the walls as she scratched at the rough wallpaper, its texture scraping as she clawed at it in desperation. The pain shot through her fingers, a sharp reminder of her reality, yet it was almost comforting—an anchor amidst the storm of her emotions.

“Shut up!” she screamed, her voice a raw mixture of anger and despair. The walls felt solid, yet they seemed to mock her, standing tall against her unraveling sanity.

The Looking Glass slipped from her fingers, falling to the ground but she barely noticed. All she could focus on was the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume her. The darkness around her deepened, and she could feel her sanity slipping away. 

“You’re not just a princess,” one whispered.

“You’re a powerful princess,” another added.

In that moment, Bridget realized she was something more—something powerful. But with that power came an overwhelming burden. As the voices continued to haunt her, she knew she had to confront this madness within, or it would consume her entirely.

The voices began to transform into a lullaby instead of a nightmare, whispering sweet promises of revenge. Revenge on Ella. Revenge on Uliana. Revenge on all who laughed at her—disrespected her. 

Her eyes grew heavy as she lay on the floor amidst the shards. Surprisingly, the shards felt more comfortable than the pain she was feeling inside. She couldn’t fight the sleep that called her, nor the voices that now urged her to trust in them. Bridget embraced them both as she closed her eyes, teleporting her into the dream world. The dream world that was once filled with pink, sugar, and nice, is now a world engulfed in blood red.

~~~

Bridget was jolted back to reality by the sounds of laughter outside, the vibrant chatter of students saying their farewells as they returned to their dorms. The night has deepened once more, but she promised herself that tomorrow will be different.

Tomorrow, she would rise earlier than usual and run some errands. It was time for a makeover. Time to change everything. Time to seek out the Bridget, the Princess—no—the Queen of Hearts from the Looking Glass. It’s time for the people of this world and the people of Wonderland to show her the respect that she deserves.

As she lay on the floor, a new determination began to bloom within her. The whispers of revenge intertwined with her resolve, igniting a fire in her heart. She would no longer be a victim; she would become the author of her destiny.

Bridget took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities. Tomorrow, she will reclaim her power. Tomorrow, she will begin her transformation. As she embraced the whispers of revenge, a chilling realization settled in her bones: the power she sought would come at a price. 

But in her quest for respect and vengeance, she would unleash a darkness that could consume not only her but everyone she once held dear. A transformation that would go down in history as the most ruthless tyrant Wonderland has ever seen, and a transformation into the very monster she feared.

~~~

A/N: This chapter feels like my 3am thoughts :> (minus the revenge and breaking stuff part...I guess) I hope you guys like this!

You can find

What could’ve happened at Castlecoming Week here (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

and

What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball here (Part 1, Part 3)

Ella leaned against Bridget’s door, her heart racing as she tried to process everything that’s happened. The weight of her friend’s pain pressed heavily on her chest. Slowly her back slid down the door until she found herself sitting on the cold floor of the dormitory hallway. She was supposed to be back home by now, but now is not really the time for her to worry about her stepmother. She needed to make things right with Bridget. 

With a deep breath, Ella prepared herself. She couldn’t afford to wallow in guilt; she needed to act. She needed to get her hands dirty. She needed to jump headfirst into this mess, the chaos she had inadvertently triggered. She needed to confront Uliana. 

Ella made her way to Black Lagoon, the air thick with an eerie mist that swirled and enveloped her like a dark cloak. Each step felt heavier as she walked on the jagged rocks, the sounds of water lapping against the shore echoing ominously in the silence.

“ULIANA!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the stillness. “ULIANA! SHOW YOURSELF!”

As if in response, a strange light began to glow from the depths of murky waters. A giant angler fish emerged, its bioluminescent lure casting an otherworldly glow across the lagoon. The fish’s enormous form seemed to part the water, revealing a stone path that led directly to its mouth.

Ella hesitated for a moment, the sight both mesmerizing and terrifying. Memories of Bridget’s tear-streaked face flashed in her mind—the pain, the betrayal in her eyes. She couldn’t let that be the last image she had of her friend. No, she owed it to Bridget to make things right. She prepared herself, and her resolve hardened. She couldn’t turn back now.

The fish opened its massive mouth, and Uliana emerged from its depths, her silhouette framed by the shimmering light as her crew followed her.

“How dare you, a mere peasant, call for me,” Ulaina sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

Ella squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. “Give it to me. The spellbook. The cursed item. Just give me what you used on Bridget. Do it while I’m asking nicely.”

“Easy, lass. It’s not like you can do anything about it.” Hook interjected, his tone dismissive.

“Don’t get me started with you, Hook. I’ll deal with you later,” Ella shot back, her anger flaring. Her fist clenched at her sides, and she could feel her pulse quicken as the heat of her frustration surged through her.

Uliana cackled, a sound that sent shivers down Ella’s spine. “If I don’t give it to you, what are you gonna do about it?”

“On second thought, Morgie darling, fetch the cookbook,” Uliana commanded. Morgie obediently retrieved it, her tentacles writhing with excitement.

“Why don’t you return this to Principal Merlin’s office, since you’re quite eager to get your hands on it?” Uliana tossed the book towards Ella, who barely caught it, her heart racing.

Ella opened the book and flipped through the pages, desperation clawing at her insides. She scanned each spell, searching for the one that had cursed Bridget. Finally, she found it, but her heart sank as she read the description. She can’t understand it. The spell only changed a person's appearance—nothing about personality or anything internal. 

Ella’s mind raced. This didn’t make sense. Bridget had always been the sweetest, most forgiving person she knew, never holding grudges, even when others mocked her for being too nice. She remembered the times when Bridget would laugh off insults with a lighthearted joke or offer treats to someone who wronged her. Bridget always said, “There’s good in everyone” or “You’ll always get more with sugar than salt.” This newfound anger, this darkness—it was so unlike her.  

Did she really mess it up? But Bridget wasn’t a resentful person before. Was it really just her fault? No, there must be something else. There had to be something more at play, something beyond the simple spell described in the book.

As the VK began to head back into their hideout, Ella murmured, “Where’s the rest of it?”

“Huh? The rest of what?” Morgie piped in, his tone a cutesy mocking one. 

“Where’s the rest of the spell?” She yelled out frantically, heaving loudly as her heart pumped fast.

“There’s nothing else. That’s all you need to bring back that desperate girl to her original form.” Uliana said, her voice laced with mockery.

“This can’t be! She’s already in her human form. You must’ve done something that messed with her head. She’s never mad at me like this!” Ella protested, desperation creeping into her voice.

Uliana turned to her crew, a sour expression crossing her face as she sensed betrayal in the air. She narrowed her eyes, scanning each member with suspicion. Could it be one of them? she thought. Loyalty is a fragile thing, easily swayed by fear or greed. She’s seen it before—those who claim to be allies, only to stab them in the back when it suits them. But she won’t let that happen again. The memory of her past betrayals flickered in her mind, fueling her resolve. They should know by now that crossing me has consequences. 

She then fixed her gaze back on Ella, a smirk playing on her lips, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, peasant. Are you sure it’s not you running off with your prince that messed with her head?”

The crew erupted into mocking laughter, their jeers echoing around the lagoon like a chorus of torment. Ella felt her cheeks flush with anger and humiliation, but she stood her ground. This was about Bridget, not her. 

“Enough!” Ella shouted, her voice steady despite the fear swirling inside her. “You think this is a game? You think you can just toy with people’s lives and get away with it?”

Uliana’s laughter faded, replaced by a cold glare. “Mind you, we’re not here to play games, but to rule.”

She turned back to enter the angler fish while the rest of her crew followed her. “You’ve wasted enough of our time.” 

She blew her shell necklace. In response, their giant angler fish hideout’s mouth started to close. “Good luck with the giant eels,” Uliana said to Ella as the rocks descended with the hideout.

Ella narrowly escaped the eels as she hopped on the descending rocks, tossing the book first before diving onto the shore like a mad woman. She landed hard, her chest heaving as she lay sprawled on the ground, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her limbs trembling from the exertion. Dirt clung to her sweat-soaked skin, and her muscles ached from the desperate scramble. For a moment, she just lay there, eyes wide, heart pounding in her ears, struggling to process the danger she had just survived.

~~~

While Ella struggled to escape the giant eels above, another struggled beneath the surface of the lagoon.

“WHO DARES TO BREAK BRIDGET’S CURSE?” Uliana yelled angrily at her closest crew.

Each one denied with “I don’t even like her,” or “I wouldn’t do that to you, my goddess,” or “I don’t care,” But one, out of the four, remained silent. Hook processed what he had done, unsure why he had acted. For him, it was really just a spur of the moment, nothing else. Or was it? 

As he stood there, a flashback of their dance at the Castlecoming Ball flooded his mind—the way Bridget had looked at him, her eyes filled with warmth and trust. He remembered the softness of her hand in his, the lightness of her laugh as they moved across the floor. It had been a rare moment where he felt something—something he couldn’t quite name, but it lingered, stirring a part of him he thought long buried.

Was it guilt? Was it something more? Even he himself didn’t know why he had acted, but the memory of Bridget’s smile haunted him, leaving him more conflicted than ever.

“James, would you care to explain.” Uliana smiled with wide eyes that could kill.

Morgie and the couple moved aside as Uliana approached him. “I thought we had already established that you don’t have anything to do with that pesky princess.”

“I don’t.” Hook answered shortly, gulping.

“Then tell me, why in Merlin’s world is she back to her normal self?” She asked, her tentacle brushing his cheeks.

“I don’t kno—” 

“LIES!” Uliana accused firmly.

“There’s only five of us who know how to reverse it.” She paused, scanning the group. “These three,” pointing at Maleficent, Morgie, and Hades, “don’t like her enough to do her a favor.”

“But you, my dear, have been showing a lot of interest in her. Even danced with her during the ball. Was it really all just an act, Hook?”

Hook couldn’t utter a single word, also unsure where his loyalty lay.

Uliana took his silence as a no, "I guess you’ve made your choice.”

She inhaled deeply before she yelled, “THROW HIM TO THE EELS!”

Uliana’s other lackeys started to surround Hook as she blew her shell necklace.

“WAIT! Do we really have to do this, Uli?” Morgie interfered. 

She scoffed before saying, “ Loyalty isn’t gray like people, Morgie. It's black and white. You’re either completely loyal or not loyal at all.” She continued in a bitter tone.

“BUT—”

“NO MORE BUTS! THROW HIM NOW!” 

Maleficent cast a spell on the lackeys, freezing them in place.

“Don’t you dare, Mal!”

“I’m not,” she defended herself. 

“I just thought that we could use him to torment princess weirdo more,” Maleficent suggested, her eyes glowing green, signaling her psychotic tendencies. The thrill of watching Bridget squirm under their manipulation was far more appealing than simply eliminating Hook; it was a game, and she relished the thought of orchestrating chaos from the shadows, savoring every moment of the princess’s despair.

Uliana narrowed her eyes, contemplating Maleficent’s suggestion. Maleficent wasn’t always like this; she never orchestrated a plan, especially something that could harm Hook. Maybe she had a change of heart. Maybe this time, Maleficent had chosen to be more active in ensuing chaos.

“You think you can manipulate him to your advantage? That could work, but it’s a risk.”

“Every plan is a risk,” Maleficent replied smoothly, her expression sly. “But if he’s truly conflicted, we can use that to our benefit. He’ll be our pawn in this game.”

“Fine, but do it properly,” Uliana said to Maleficent as she exited the hideout with Morgie following right behind her.

Hook felt grateful to Maleficent. She always had his back, always diverting the attention from him whenever he needed it. However, he would never guess she would suggest he become their pawn. Their pawn. Maybe it was just his theatrics rubbing off on her.

He approached her. “Thanks for that, Mal. I know that I can count on you,” he said, placing his left hand on her shoulder.

Maleficent looked at the hand as if disgusted by it. Pushing the hand away, she said, “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no fun in making you eel food. Controlling you would be much, much more thrilling.” Her eyes glowed green again.

“Mal—”

“I already warned you before, so don’t even.” she threatened her ‘friend’, before leaving the hideout with Hades.

Hook couldn’t believe this. A wave of dread washed over him. He had underestimated Uliana’s wrath. He underestimated the depths of Maleficent’s cunningness. Maybe for once, he also needed to take his own advice: Trust no one, because even salt can look like sugar.

~~~

You can find

What could’ve happened at Castlecoming Week here (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

and

What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball here (Part 2, Part 3)

Ella walked down the halls of Merlin’s Academy with Charming. With Bridget out of sight since the Castlecoming Ball, she’s grown worried for her friend. She felt guilty that she wasn’t able to get back to Bridget that day, but she hoped that Bridget could forgive her for that.

She parted with Charming. With a small peck on his cheeks, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Charming skateboarded out while Ella makes her way towards Bridget’s room, hoping to find her there.

In the dormitory, she knocks three times. “Bridget? Are you in there?” Ella called, her voice filled with concern. 

No one answered.

She really hoped that Bridget was right. She hoped that she was just experimenting with new treats to bake for her not to be seen for two days.

Feeling fidgety, she twisted the doorknob but to no avail, until an unlocking sound could be heard from the inside.

“Who is it?” Bridget asked in a low and hoarse voice.

She opened the door to see Ella. “Oh, it’s you,” Bridget muttered, her eyes avoiding Ella’s. Bridget’s hair no longer in a bun, hung limply around her face like an uncooked noodle. Her lipstick smudged across her cheeks while her eyes puffed as if all she had done was cry since the Ball.

“Bridget, what happened?” Ella asked, noticing the change. “You haven’t even changed out of your dress too?” she added, her eyebrow furrowed and eyes tight with concern.

Bridget remained silent, her head facing the floor, as Ella walked inside the room. 

Ella started to turn on the lamps, one by one. When she reached for the last lamp, she felt some shards instead. She withdrew her hand quickly as she felt a shard pierce through her skin. Blood began to flow out from the finger as the room lit up, painting the view clearly.

The room was a mess. Shattered glass littered the floor and the remnants of a broken vase scattered across the table. The crimson gown Bridget had worn was wrinkled and torn at the sleeves.

“Bridget, what happened? Ella asked, her voice filled with worry as she wrapped a tissue around her bleeding finger. Looking around, Ella saw ripped wallpaper like the room was attacked by some wolf. The room smelled like burnt treats. Or was it the scented papers? Bridget’s oven was also on the ground in a broken state. Her curtains were closed shut as if Bridget didn’t want to see any light. 

Bridget’s hollow eyes looked up to Ella. “It’s nothing,” she muttered, turning away.

Ella moved closer, gently taking Bridget’s hand. “This isn’t nothing. Please, talk to me,” she urged softly. 

Ella waited for Bridget’s response. Their breaths are all they hear and now, it’s quite deafening.

Tears slowly dropped as Bridget faced Ella. “Why do you care now?” she said, trying to hold back the tears that kept flowing. 

Bridget’s mind was in a whirlpool of conflicting emotions. Seeing Ella standing there, concern etched on her face, made her want to scream. How could Ella act like she cared now? Where was she when Bridget needed her most? The memories of the ball flashed through her mind, each one like a dagger to her heart. She had felt so alone, so utterly abandoned.

Now, after everything, Ella dared to ask what was wrong. The betrayal cut deep, deeper than she thought possible. She tried to blink away the tears, but they kept coming, fueled by the hurt that had been growing inside her since that night.

“What do you mean? I always care because you’re my best friend.” Ella said as she squeezed Bridget’s hand.

Bridget, unconvinced, shook her off and said, “It didn’t feel that way when you left yesterday. You know, when I needed you the most.”

Ella softened her gaze as she felt her heart pounded in her chest, a reminder of the weight of her guilt. “Bri, Castlecoming was two days ago. Still, I’m sorry if I left. You know I was just hiding from my step sisters. Then Charming helped me out and—” 

“Save it, El. I saw what happened. I saw you flee, holding hands with your prince,” Bridget snapped, her voice bitter. 

Ella couldn’t understand Bridget’s bitterness. She knew it was wrong for her to leave Bridget alone when she was the one who asked in the first place. But, was it also wrong for her to be living the dream? It was already done and she was sorry. She’s here now. She was ready for the consequences or at least she thought she was.

“That’s not fair, Bridget.” Ella protested, her expression pained.

”You know that my life’s been filled with nothing but misery. Charming was the best thing that happened to me,” Ella continued, her voice pleading.

“What about me Ella?!” Bridget’s voice rose, trembling with emotion. “I had the worst time of my life when Uliana turned me into a monster.”

“Bri—” Ella tried to interject.

“They humiliated me at my first dance. Cackled at me as my nose grew longer, my hands crooked, and my skin green,” Bridget recounted, her voice cracking with each word. 

Bridget couldn’t take it. Reliving that moment was already harsh enough. But, the need to retell the story from her perspective just so her ‘best friend’ could understand her was cruel. She hugged herself involuntarily as she remembered that night. The night when she sought for Ella, only for her to see her running out of the hall with Charming.

“I didn’t know—” Ella started, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course, you didn’t know! My so-called friend didn’t even bother to look back at me.” Bridget accused, wiping the tears that streamed down her face.

“I really didn’t know. I’m so sorry. We can go through this together. It was just one of Uliana’s stupid pranks.” Ella pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears.

Ella’s heart ached with regret. She felt small and helpless, wishing she could turn back time. Maybe if she did, she would have made Bridget happier. Happy that Bridget got to experience the Ball. Happy that they would have spent their time laughing about the stories they would’ve created that night. But no, she stood here on the brink of losing one of the important people in her life. For her, just the thought of it was unbearable, but at the same time, she knew part of it was her fault.

“No. I already went through it and you weren’t there. James was right, even salt can look like sugar.” Bridget replied, her voice cold.

“James? James Hook? Why were you with him?” Ella asked, confusion evident on her face.

“It doesn’t concern you now, does it, Ella?”

”He was there when you weren’t. He helped me see the world a bit more clearly.” Bridget added, turning her back on Ella. “You can see yourself out now.”

Ella stood there, stunned, unsure of how to approach her friend. Her breath hitched. She opens her mouth to utter something, just anything. She guessed that anything she said wouldn’t have changed Bridget’s mind. 

“What are you still doing here?” 

“I said leave!” Bridget’s voice rang in the entire room. Ella, not knowing what to do anymore, went through the door and left. 

Each step she took felt heavier than the last as if she dragged the chains of regret behind her. The door clicked shut, but the sound echoed in her mind like a final goodbye.  

Ella knew when she left that she would never see the friend she knew and loved again. Because the Bridget that she saw today had eyes that glowed red and a heart that turned black. She had found love, but in doing so, she lost a friend. She knew part of it was her fault and she would carry these guilt-weights until she took her last breath.  

~~~

We are now in desperate need to escape this danger and continue my dream and educational and professional journey💔. I kindly ask you to donate or share the campaign link. Your support can save our lives and give us a chance to live in peace🍉.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart🙏.

Please take time to read ❤️ TO AMIRA: Hi @amira-world, I pray for you and you're family to find peace and safety. I would gladly contribute to your campaign and hope that every little bit can help you achieve your dreams. Wish you and your family all the best ❤️ TO EVERYONE ELSE: Hello everyone! I know I usually post about fanfictions, stories that transports us to another world. But today, I am here to share a real-world story that needs our support, the story of Amira. Amira is a 23-year-old breadwinner of her family after her father's death. She and her family were forced to flee after the war intensified. She was determined continue her studies to be able to provide for her family. In 2024, she decided to further develop herself and enrolled in a master's program. She studied for about a month but then the war began. She has completely stopped her studies and has been unable to work for nine months. But, she hasn't lose hope.

So, I urge everyone to contribute something into her journey. We are now witnesses to a real-world narrative. Something that we readers/writers can make a tangible difference/change in their stories, their life and bring it into a positive light. If you have more time, please take a moment to read her full story. This is the link to her fundraiser. This is a vetted fundraiser and it is already close to their goal. Currently at €17,028 raised of €20,000 goal. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference! If you can't help financially, re-blogging this to spread her campaign would be an absolute help!

Thank you for taking your time to read and support this. Have a good day and stay safe ❤️

A/N: Sorry for adding this here but I hope you can make time to see this post. Someone is in need of our help.

Pairing: Young Captain James Hook x Princess Bridget of Wonderland

You can find part 1 or part 2 here.

You can find the Aftermath of the Castlecoming Ball here (part 1, part 2, Part 3).

A/N: Credits to the person who posted this dress! I found it on pinterest :>

The night of the Castlecoming buzzed with excitement and anticipation. The grand hall is adorned in shimmering lights and lavish decorations, while the air was filled with laughter and music. The students, dressed in luxurious gowns and tuxedos, mingled together, but one figure stood out above the rest.

Bridget entered the hall in her deep crimson gown, contrasting beautifully with her pink bunned hair. Each step she took hinted at a subtle shimmer, the gown catching the light and sparkling as if sprinkled with stardust. Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off of her. Bridget, who always wore pink dresses with hearts embedded on them, now displayed a cascade of deep crimson silk adorned with intricate floral embroidery. Patterns of roses and delicate vines seemed to bloom from the fabric itself.

Despite her grand entrance, Bridget still found herself standing alone in the corner of the grand hall. She had already placed the treats that she brought on the snacks table and there’s still no sign of Ella. She quietly paced back and forth at the corner, starting to worry for her friend. “Ella’s never late,” she thought, “unless her stepmother and stepsisters have something to do with it.” 

Scanning the room, she spotted her curly blue-haired friend and called out, “Ella! Over here!” waving her arm enthusiastically.

“Bridget!” Ella said as she approached her. “You look great! I can’t believe you chose a red dress.”

Bridget smiled, a touch of playfulness in her voice. “Well, it’s a nice change, don’t you think?” She then complimented Ella, “You look gorgeous too. But, I thought you were going to wear your mom’s pink dress?”

Ella glanced around nervously before replying, “I ran into some problems, but someone helped me.” She looked out into the crowd, silently thanking Fay.

Their conversation was cut short after Ella spotted one of her stepsisters, “Bridget, just stay right here. I can’t let my stepsister see me here. I’ll be back later, alright?” 

Bridget nodded as Ella rushed to hide. Well, that was a bummer. She only got to spend a few minutes with her friend but that’s alright. “At least she still showed up,” she thought hugging herself. With the absence of her friend, it feels much colder. She felt the chill of the autumn air creeping in, replacing the warmth of summer.

Leaning against the wall, Bridget watched the crowd. She still couldn’t believe that she hasn’t made a single friend, other than Ella, during her one year of staying at Merlin’s Academy. She thought about Hook, wondering if their brief chats over the past two days made them friends. He liked her sweets but did he like her? The other students loved her sweets but not her. Just like in Wonderland, the people love their princess, but not Bridget. She couldn’t help but think that maybe Hook was right. She quickly discarded that thought and approached the table where her sweets were located. 

Just as she was about to grab a snack, a voice beside her spoke, "Enjoying yourself, Pinkie?" Hook's voice was smooth, with a hint of teasing.

Bridget turned, her eyes lighting up with surprise and delight. "Hook! I didn't expect to see you here," she replied, her smile warm and welcoming.

Hook advanced towards her, sporting an amused face. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His eyes flicked to her dress. "Red suits you. Looks like you took my advice."

Blushing slightly, Bridget laughed softly. "I did. Thank you. You look dashing as well."

An awkward silence settled between them, broken by the music shifting to a slow, melodic waltz. Couples began to pair off, filling the dance floor.

Feeling a rare impulse, Hook extended his hand towards Bridget. "Care to dance, Princess?"

Bridget felt a surge of happiness as she accepted his hand. They moved to the edge of the dance floor, joining the swirling pairs. As they danced, Hook found himself strangely at ease. Bridget’s presence was soothing, her genuine warmth contrasting sharply with his cold exterior. But, he can’t let his guard down. He needs to complete the task Uliana had given. He needs to prove his loyalty to their crew, his friends. 

As the dance ended, the sea of students parted to reveal Uliana and her crew approaching.

“Hook, I didn’t know that Bridget is your date.” Uliana said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Bridget shook her head no, covering the slight blush on her cheek. “I’m with Ella. He just asked me for a dance.”

“And where is she exactly,” Uliana asked as she circled around Bridget like a predator.

“Well-” Bridget started, but Uliana interrupted after assessing her. 

“I almost forgot.” Uliana snapped her fingers. “Morgie, honey, the thing,” she ordered as Morgie handed her the cupcake in one of her tentacles.

“I’ve made you this cupcake. You know, to signify a treaty.” Her smirk never wavered.

“Ah! I made you some treats as well. Wait here.” Bridget said, rushing towards the snack table. She searched for the plate of treats, only to find it empty. Disappointed, she returned to Uliana and her crew, her head hanging low. 

“I’m sorry, Uli,” she murmured. “I thought I brought enough. But, I’ll make you some—”

Uliana cut her off, “That’s not necessary. All you need to do is accept my offering.” She extended her tentacle, urging Bridget to pick it up.

“Thanks. This means a lot to me.” Bridget took a bite, noting a funny flavor that she couldn’t put her finger on.

“It’s good, Uli. I didn’t know you baked.” 

Morgie chimed in, “Oh, you haven’t eaten the best part yet.”

Bridget took another bite, as anticipation built within the VKs. But nothing happened. Confusion spread among them—was Bridget immune to magic? Why isn’t it working?

Suddenly, Bridget dropped the cupcake, her eyes wide in panic. “What’s happening to me?” she shrieked. She clutched her throat, feeling something stuck. Her nose began to stretch, her back hunched, and her skin green. Her arms became all bones and hands stiffened as it became crooked. What happened to her?

She looked around in horror as Uliana and her crew cackled. Hook, standing nearby, laughed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

Soon the other students noticed and joined the laughter. Their laughs, cackles, howls, she can hear them all. Bridget felt tears well up in her eyes as the crowd's laughter echoed around her. Their voices ringing through her head as she felt her world spin. 

Desperately, she searched for Ella, her friend, her solace. But, what she saw broke her even more. Ella didn’t notice, didn’t bother to look for her. It’s like she was bewitched by Charming, who was now dragging her out. Oblivious to Bridget’s suffering, HER suffering.

She doesn’t know what to do anymore. It’s like everything fell on her like a ton of bricks. She couldn’t handle it anymore. All she wants now is to be invisible. But that’s not possible, so she did the next thing possible… run. Run as far away as possible. She ran, pushing through the crowd, heading for the courtyard.

She felt a hand grab her boney arms. “Pinkie.” Hook called out softly.

“What do you want from me?” she snapped, her voice breaking

“I can help—” 

“Is this another trick? Did Uliana put you up to it?” 

“No. No, I—”

“You WHAT? Huh?”

“You approached me for the past two days to ensure Uliana’s revenge. Are you happy now?”

Hook hesitated, then replied, “Not as much as I thought I would be.”

Bridget shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I thought you were different. You told me things as they are. No sugarcoating. But just as I was starting to believe you, you stabbed me in the back.”

“Princess—”

“Don’t Princess me! I can’t handle it anymore! I, at least, thought that the past two days were the start of something new. But, you were just like everybody else—”

“Shut up for a minute.” Hook said, grabbing her face and leaning closer.

He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Bridget slowly transformed back to her normal self. She looked up at Hook, confusion and gratitude in her eyes.

“You can go now.” Hook said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know either, alright? I just can’t stand seeing you look like a deflated balloon.”

Bridget’s heart softened, her tears slowing. “Thank you.”

“I’ll get going. The crew’s probably looking for me now. You should go too”

Bridget nodded, turning to leave. As she walked away, Hook called out, “Bridget, remember what I said before. But if you can’t do it, I’ll do it for you. Even if it’s against Uliana.”

Bridget paused, looking back with a determined expression. “Don’t worry, James. I’ll handle it,” she said, her eyes gleaming with newfound resolve, bloodlust.

~~~

A/N: How did I do? |･ω･｀)

This was longer than I had expected and I struggled to write it too T^T. Like, I didn’t even know how to end it. But, you know, I have to give it to you guys even just a little smooch without breaking Hook’s personality (But I already broke it didn’t I? T^T). Anyways, sorry for the rant. Have a happy reading! Really hope you liked it. This is the last part of Hook x Bridget. I’ll post a poll later on what to write next but it’s still about Castlecoming.

Pairing: Young Captain James Hook x Princess Bridget of Wonderland

You can find the part 1 or part 3 here.

You can find the Aftermath of the Castlecoming Ball here (part 1, part 2, Part 3).

Bridget couldn’t help but feel happy. How couldn’t she? Tomorrow was Castlecoming, and everything seemed to be falling into place. She had her gown ready, her best friend Ella was going with her, and she had even baked treats for the occasion.

For now, she was handing out her latest creation—cake pops. Nothing special, just leftovers from yesterday’s cupcake that have gone untouched. She didn’t really want to have a repeat of yesterday since she wanted to make amends with Uliana tomorrow. Today, she let Uliana cool off, hoping they could start fresh at Castlecoming.

As she handed out the cake pops to passing students, she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she saw Hook, slightly towering over her, casually picking up two cake pops from her tray.

“You wouldn’t mind if I took two, right Pinkie?” Hook said, a slight grin on his face.

Bridget's cheeks warmed at the close proximity. She shifted slightly to face him, trying to maintain her composure. “I don’t mind,” she replied with a smile, “In fact, take as many as you want.”

“Woah, woah. Are you sure about that?” He asked skepticism painted all over his face.

“Are you trying to make a flamingo too?” He raised his right eyebrow, teasingly.

Bridget gasped her expression a mix of shock and amusement. “No! I would never do that,” she insisted. Hook struck a pose, feigning elegance. “Not that I wouldn’t look good as a flamingo,” he quipped.

Bridget giggled at his antics, shaking her head. “I have no doubts about that, but there's nothing in these—just plain old cake pops.”

Hook's eyebrows remained raised, clearly unconvinced. Bridget felt a pang of disappointment but she can’t blame him. So, she did the only thing that she could think of to make his doubts vanish.

“Here, I’ll eat one.” She said, grabbing one stick of cake pop from the plate.

She was about to place it in her mouth when she asked, “Or we can do it at the same time?”

Hook hesitated for a second before raising his cake pop in a mock toast. “Cheers,” he said, his tone still playful.

They bit into the cake pops simultaneously. For a moment, there was silence. True to her word, nothing happened. Like, nothing at all. Or so it seems. Hook's eyes widened slightly as the sweet strawberry flavor filled his mouth.

Bridget watched him, relief washing over her as she saw his expression soften. The treat was simple, but it was made with care, and she hoped it conveyed her intentions.

Hook swallowed, a small smile playing on his lips. “Not bad, Pinkie. Not bad at all.” He proceeded to eat several more cake pops, clearly enjoying them.

He was reaching for another when a passing student, a prince, grabbed the last one. “Hey! That’s mine,” Hook called out, but the student quickly walked away upon realizing it was Hook he had crossed.

“They’re called royalty but couldn’t even bother to learn some etiquette.” Hook muttered, displeased at losing the last cake pop.

Bridget giggled at his grumpiness before she said, “Don’t worry about that, I’ll make some more in the future.”

Hook’s eyes lit up unexpectedly, a contrast to his usual demeanor. Was the bribe working on him? He quickly shook off the thought and murmured, “Why would you do that for me? Why are you so nice all the time?”

“Well, you get more with sugar than salt.” She said with a smile.

“But even salt can look like sugar.” Hook countered. 

This made Bridget smile drop. “I know,” she said, remembering her experiences back in Wonderland. 

People were kind to her as their princess. But, she had overheard the maids mockingly calling her a naive princess. She hoped that after graduating from Merlin’s Academy, her people would see her differently.

“You can get the most out of people if you use fear.” Hook said, breaking Bridget from her thoughts.

“What do you mean?” Bridget asked, intrigued and a bit confused.

“I mean, Princess, that you could get people to respect you. Listen to you.” Hook explained, gesturing to himself. “Just look at me. I’m a captain of my own ship at this age.”

Bridget looked thoughtful, still grappling with his words. Hook sighed and tried to clarify, “All I’m saying, Pinkie, is that LOVE. AIN’T. IT.” 

Before Bridget could respond, they heard Maleficent’s voice from down the corridor. “Hook! Where are you? Uliana’s going to kill you if you’re late again.”

Hook turned back to Bridget, taking her hand and pressing a brief kiss to it. “I’ll be going now, Princess,” he said with a mischievous grin before rushing off to find Maleficent, leaving a very confused Bridget in the courtyard.

~~~

A/N: As promised (was it really a promise tho?), @ladyofthesun. Hope you like it! Part 3 would be the last part of the HookedHeart Ship. It depends if I can think of a scenario after the Castlecoming :> ANYWAYS, Happy reading!

Pairing: Young Captain James Hook x Princess Bridget of Wonderland

You can find the part 2 or part 3 here.

You can find the Aftermath of the Castlecoming Ball here (part 1, part 2, Part 3).

James Hook is bored, to say the least. The thing that happened to Uliana earlier has been a source of amusement for him. But, it didn’t last long as the said girl was hard to calm down afterward. 

Now, he’s on the bustling streets of the town right next to Merlin’s Academy. He rolled his eyes at the couples on the street, all buzzing about Castlecoming. Sure, he understood it was a big deal, even Hades and Maleficent were going. Heck, even Uliana and Morgie are going. Although, that’s just going to be Morgie following Uliana like a lost puppy.

He sighs and stops at the store, or rather a boutique. Yes, he’s going too whether he liked it or not since his, ugh, “friends” insisted on him going. What can he say, if he’s going, he needed to impress the ladies.

He enters the boutique. The first thing that stands out to him is a certain bubbly, pink-haired princess of wonderland. She was trying out, ugh, pink dresses, no less.

This is going to be fun.

“Why fancy seeing you here, Pinkie.” Hook said, his voice dripping with mock surprise as he circled around her.

“Hook!” Bridget jumped, clearly startled. She seemed tense, likely still rattled from the fiasco with Uliana.

He continued to circle around her as he scanned her from top to bottom, with his hook on his chin.

Bridget gulped before she started, “Uhm, how is Uli doing? Is she alright?” 

Hook stopped in his tracks and laughed, the sound sharp and humorless.

“Uli,” he stressed, “is doing fine. You shouldn’t worry about her.”

He moved in front of her, using his hook to gently lift her chin, bringing her face close to his. “You should be worrying about yourself after the stunt you pulled earlier.” 

“I didn’t mean any harm. I warned her about the flamingo feathers.” She said, looking down, guilt clouding her expression

Hook smirked, stepping back. "Bold of you. Most would just stay out of her way." His gaze lingered on her dress. "And even bolder to be out shopping for a dress, knowing Uliana’s got it out for you now."

“Was it really that bad?” She asked with hope in her voice.

“Well, lass.” He moved his face over to her shoulder and whispered, “Why don’t you tell me.”

He moved away with a smirk on his face, curious. What in Merlin's world is running through her head? She’s constantly tried to bribe them with some treats to be her friends. No one can actually be that nice, right?

“I-” Bridget struggled to find the right words.

Hook raised his eyebrows, urging her to continue.

“I’ll make it up to her!” She declared with a determined face.

He just laughed, hysterically. He couldn’t really predict her.

“Whatever you say, Princess.” He said as he proceeded to find a tuxedo suited for him.

Before going any further, he stopped on his tracks and turned to Bridget’s direction.

“Red.” He said as she glanced in his way. 

“Red would suit you, Pinkie.” 

“At least with red, it wouldn’t look like a unicorn barfed all over you,” he added, then headed to the men’s section.

Bridget watched him go, a smile forming on her face. She couldn't help but feel she might have gained a friend—an unexpected one in Hook.

~~~

A/N: (○•○) Maybe that’s why she named her daughter Red. I totally ship!!! (♡v♡)

Qi Lin rocked her feet back and forth as she waited for the nurse to call her name. The rhythmic motion was calming, a small way to remove the boredom from waiting. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the quiet hum of the hospital.

As she continued to rock her feet, she found herself recalling the day where her 'everything' ended.

FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The finals of the women's 18 and under tennis tournament were tense. The score was tied at 2-2, with the current set in her favor 5-4, Ad-40. Each swing sent jolts of pain through Qi Lin's wrist, but she pushed through, determined to end the rally that seemed to stretch on forever.

Due to the fact that her wrist is already in a rather poor condition to begin with, she planned to end everything fast. However, fate had other plans for her and drove Qi Lin down to the road of impatience and desperation.

Despite the searing pain in her wrist with each swing, Qi Lin resolved to use her latest technique—a risky move she had yet to fully master. Desperation fueled her determination, pushing her to take the chance. Setting her racket in a low position, she took a deep breath, focusing her attention on the ball.

She swung her racket from low to high position, the ball brushing underneath her racket. The ball flew just barely above the net but it was not the only thing that flew—her racket did too. Her racket landed near the net while the ball landed on her opponent's side before bouncing back towards her court without being hit by her opponent.

Qi Lin fell on her knees, sobbing crying her heart out, not being able to believe that she did it! The whole arena cheered as she stood up to pick her racket. She grabbed it but her joy was replaced with pain as she screeched and—

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Miss Qi Lin," the nurse called her the nth time.

Startled out of her reverie, Qi Lin blinked rapidly, readjusting to the present moment. She straightened up in her seat, momentarily disoriented before realizing where she was. Pushing aside the memories of that intense match, she turned towards the nurse with a faint smile.

"Yes, that's me," Qi Lin replied, her voice soft yet composed despite the lingering emotions from her recollection.

The nurse gestured for her to follow and led her into Dr. Wang's office.

"Ah, Qi Lin, come in," Dr. Wang greeted her with a warm smile. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a reassuring demeanor. "How have you been?"

"I've been alright, Dr. Wang. My wrist is still stiff, but it's manageable," Qi Lin replied, taking a seat and rubbing her wrist absently.

"Good to hear," Dr. Wang said, nodding. "Let's take a look."

He examined her wrist carefully, testing its range of motion and strength. Qi Lin winced slightly as he pressed on a tender spot, but overall, the examination was more comfortable than it had been in months.

"Your wrist is healing well," Dr. Wang said finally, removing his gloves. "The stiffness is normal, and it should continue to improve with therapy. How's your daily routine been? Have you started training for tennis again?"

Qi Lin shakes her head no. "I haven't. I try to avoid putting too much pressure on it."

"That's good, but you can already start it small with your tennis training. Remember, gradual strengthening is key. I'd like for you to continue with your physical therapy exercises, and we'll add a few new ones to help with the stiffness," Dr. Wang advised, showing her the new exercises on a pamphlet.

After the appointment, Qi Lin left Dr. Wang's office, feeling relieved yet pensive about her recovery. As she walked down the corridor, lost in thought while reading the pamphlet, she turned a corner and collided with someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Qi Lin exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to steady herself and the person she had bumped into.

The familiar voice brought Qi Lin back to the present. "Qi Lin? What are you doing here?" Siyang asked, his concern evident as he steadied her.

"Captain?" She called out.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you there," Qi Lin said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise as she straightened herself.

"It's alright, no harm done," Siyang replied, his face remaining neutral yet sounding reassuring. "Are you okay?"

Qi Lin nodded quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit lost in thought," she admitted.

Siyang's eyes wandered to Qi Lin's hand—specifically the pamphlet. Why does she have that—

"You've had an injury?" He asked, looking directly into her eyes while Qi Lin avoided it.

"Uhm..." She fidgets and slightly crumples the pamphlet.

"Can we take this to somewhere more secluded?"

Siyang nodded. "Where should we go?"

Qi Lin scratched her head in embarrassment as she said, "I was hoping you would know some place."

"I know some places but it's almost lunch time. Have you eaten?"

Qi Lin's stomach grumbled as if it was answering for her. "As you've heard from my stomach, I haven't."

The edges of Siyang's lips pulled slightly upwards like he was smiling, but with the Captain's stoic face, it was hard to tell.

"I have pre-ordered some peking duck before going here. We just need to pick it before going." He said, walking towards the elevator with Qi Lin at the back following him.

"Mind telling what place you have in mind?" Qi Lin asked but Siyang just kept his mouth locked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow!"

There wasn't much to be mesmerized by—the bridge where Siyang usually fished offered a simple, serene view. But Qi Lin's amazement was all about the food.

"This is really good, Siyang," she said, savoring the last bite. "Thanks for the meal!"

"No problem."

Qi Lin leaned back against the bridge support, savoring the lingering taste of the meal and the tranquility of the setting. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant sound of water added to the peaceful ambiance. She glanced at Siyang, who was already watching her with a thoughtful expression.

Siyang cleared his throat before asking, "So, about the pamphlet..."

Qi Lin took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before saying, "I guess, I can't avoid it any longer."

She turned her eyes away from Siyang, straightening her posture as if preparing herself to drop the bomb on him.

Alright, Qi Lin. It's already in the past. YOU CAN DO THIS!

"You don't need to talk about it if you're not comfortable."

"No, I can do this." Qi Lin reassured Siyang but it was mostly to reassure herself.

"I had a wrist injury about seven months ago," Qi Lin began, her voice wavering slightly. She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon as she gathered her thoughts. Siyang remained silent, his attentive gaze encouraging her to continue.

"I got it when I was playing tennis. It was an important match for me. I eventually won the match but as you can see," she gestured to her left wrist, "It came with a price." She said, trying to put on a smile but failed.

"After the match, my injury—the pain—got in the way of my everyday life. The doctors suggested that I should go with the surgery to lessen the pain and at least bring it back to normal."

She paused, staring into the sky saying, "But I know that it'll never be the same."

Siyang instinctively reached out his hand towards her when Qi Lin suddenly turned to him with a tear in her eye. He retracted his hand and shuffled, finding his handkerchief.

"It's fine, Captain. I'm alright." She smiled as the tears fell down.

All Siyang could do was give her the handkerchief so she could wipe her tears.

He waited for her to regain her composure before uttering a word. "You did well, Qi Lin."

"Thanks," She said with a sniff.

The two sat in silence when Qi Lin had a realization.

"How about you, Captain? What were you doing at the hospital?"

Without hesitation, Siyang answered, "I also have an injury."

"Oh" Qi Lin reacted. "May I ask what happened?"

"It was 2 years ago. A senior hit my elbow with a racket. It's not that painful but the doctor said it was not stable." He said, looking at his left elbow.

Qi Lin stared at his elbow before looking at her wrist. An unexpected chuckle escaped her lips, surprising even herself. Siyang's head tilted in curiosity, his serious demeanor momentarily softened.

Qi Lin realized her actions as she turned red. "I'm ... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to ... I didn't mean to laugh at you," she said, covering her face with her hands.

She breathed in and out as she let herself cool down before continuing, "I just thought that we are so alike."

"It seems like we're living parallel lives," Qi Lin remarked, her voice tinged with a mixture of irony and sadness. Siyang's gaze lingered on her, understanding and empathy reflected in his eyes.

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 10

Up Next: Chapter 12

The match between Siyang and Dayong ended in Siyang's favor with a score of 6-1. Qi Lin, in awe, remained seated at the bench as the two players shook each other's hands.

It has never occurred to her that there was such a large skill gap between the captain and the other members, since the others were already highly exceptional in their play.

However, this match between the captain and vice-captain had just proved her wrong. It just makes her wonder just how far the captain could go.

Siyang and Dayong approached the bench as Qi Lin praised both of them for their efforts while handing them some towels. "That was a good game, guys!"

"I- thank you, Qi Lin, but as you saw, Siyang totally crushed me." Dayong said shyly, wiping off the sweat from the back of his neck.

"Don't undermine yourself, Dayong. You've made those fans cheer their hearts out," she said, pointing at the crowd of spectators.

Dayong blushed even more, whether from the cheers or the blazing heat of the sun, Qi Lin couldn't tell. She also didn't analyze it any further and just handed him a cold energy drink from the basket. "Here, this should help."

"Thanks," he murmured, taking the drink gratefully.

Qi Lin then turned to Siyang, who was silently watching the ongoing match between Yan Zhiming and Lu Xia. "Siyang?" she called, trying to get his attention. When he didn't respond, she gently tapped his shoulder.

Siyang turned to her, the drink near his face, his intense focus softening slightly as he acknowledged her presence. "Thanks," he said, taking the drink with a nod.

"No problem, Captain."

Qi Lin edged closer to Siyang, her eyes darting to the match, trying to see what he saw. She watched Lu Xia miss the smash from Ah-Yan.

"It won't be any loss to Yu Qing with those two on the team," she said, still looking ahead at the match.

Siyang nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the court. "They both have potential.

Before Qi Lin could add anything, Siyang's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and sighed. "I have a meeting with the student council now. I'll see you later."

"Wait, why do you have a meeting with the student council?" Qi Lin asked, puzzled.

Dayong, who had been listening nearby, stepped in. "Siyang is actually the student body president."

Qi Lin whispered to herself, "So he has everything, huh?" She felt a strange mix of admiration and intimidation as she watched Siyang disappear from the court.

Dayong chuckled and said, "And Siyang gained another admirer."

Qi Lin blushed and quickly responded, "It's more like deep respect for his work ethic."

Dayong nodded understandingly. "He's really good at pretty much anything, balancing everything effortlessly."

They continued to stare at the spot where Siyang had exited when Dayong broke the silence, saying, "I'm gonna check Ah-Yan and Lu Xia's match. Are you coming?"

"Yes, just give me a second," Qi Lin answered. She picked up the empty basket, put her notebook in it, and then followed Dayong to the other court.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qi Lin made her way to the 10th-grade classrooms, looking for Qi Ying and Peng Xiang for their tennis cheerleading club meeting. She arrived at the classroom and found the two girls drawing some posters for the upcoming inter-school tennis matches.

"Hey, girls! How's it going?" Qi Lin greeted, peeking at their work.

Qi Ying showed her a beautifully drawn chibi tennis player. "What do you think, Jiejie?"

"It's adorable, Meimei!" Qi Lin said, hugging Qi Ying from behind and playing with her hair.

She then analyzed the drawing some more before poking her cousin's cheek continually, saying in a teasing tone, "But don't you think it looks awfully close to a certain grape Fanta-loving tennis player?"

Qi Ying turned red, not refusing her older cousin's observation, which earned a giggle from Peng Xiang.

Qi Lin took a closer look at Peng Xiang's drawing. Confused by what it was, she asked, "What's this?"

Peng Xiang proudly displayed her work. "It's a dragon! Our slogan is 'full of vigor, like a dragon.'"

Qi Lin could only respond with an awkward "Ah, I see."

Peng Xiang pouted at her senior and asked, "Does it not look like it, Senior?"

"It does, Peng Xiang. Your artwork really brings the slogan to life," Qi Lin reassured, giving her a warm smile.

Satisfied by her senior's response, she went back to coloring the dragon.

Qi Lin could feel the girls' enthusiasm and continued to admire the posters. Qi Ying and Peng Xiang exchanged excited glances. Peng Xiang then urged Qi Lin to also draw something on the blank canvas.

"Come on, Senior, draw something too!" Peng Xiang encouraged.

Qi Lin laughed, feeling a bit nervous. "I'm not much of an artist, but I'll give it a try."

She picked up a pencil and began to sketch, the girls watching eagerly.

She first outlined some Chinese characters in the middle of the canvas then drew some starbursts around it. She proceeds to color the Chinese characters with a navy blue marker and starburst ranging from yellow-shaded markers to green-shaded markers to blue-shaded markers.

"There, all done," Qi Lin said, stepping back to admire her work.

"That looks great, Jiejie!" Qi Ying exclaimed.

Peng Xiang nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it fits perfectly with our theme!"

Qi Lin smiled, feeling warm inside. "Thanks, girls. Let's make these posters the best they can be and cheer our team to victory!"

After a few minutes of doodling, a tall figure entered the room looking for someone. Peng Xiang's gaze ran to that person, when she suddenly stood up saying, "Senior!"

"Yes?" Qi Lin asked, thinking it was her who she was calling.

"What are you doing here?" Peng Xiang and the other person asked simultaneously. Forcing a confused Qi Lin to look up.

To her surprise, standing in front of her was Siyang, holding a brown paper bag filled with a neatly folded tennis uniform. His eyes scanned the room before settling on three people in front of him.

Peng Xiang, being Peng Xiang, was too excited to share their progress and showed their posters but mainly flashing Qi Lin's. "Senior, what do you think?"

Siyang scanned the posters before he hummed and said, "It's good. Thank you for your hard work."

The girls nodded and the silence engulfed the classroom when Qi Lin decided to ask, "What brings you here, Captain?"

"I'm looking for Lu Xia," Siyang replied, stepping further into the room.

"Lu Xia has already left, Senior." Qi Ying informed him.

"He left?" Siyang inwardly asked, looking at the paper bag he's holding.

"Please give this to Lu Xia." Siyang handed the bag to Qi Ying.

Looking at the contents of the bag, Peng Xiang gasped and whispered, "It's a main player's uniform." This brought a smile to Qi Ying's face as she imagined what Lu Xia would look like in the uniform.

She turned to her senior with a smile on her face. "Will do, Senior, but tomorrow's Saturday. I might not see him either," she said, trying to return the bag to Siyang when it was snatched by Peng Xiang.

"You can count on us, Senior! A-Mu said that he asked Lu Xia to play tennis tomorrow. We can give it to him then."

Siyang gave his thanks before looking at Qi Lin. "See you on monday."

"See you when I see ya', Captain," Qi Lin said in a sing-song tone, watching Siyang as he left the room.

She turned back to the girls, who were both grinning at her.

"What?" she asked, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Peng Xiang giggled. "You totally have a thing for Senior Siyang, don't you?"

Qi Lin's cheeks burned at the straightforward comment. She tried to muster a composed response, but her voice wavered slightly. "It - it's not like ... it's not like that." Deep down, she wondered if there was some truth to Peng Xiang's words

Qi Ying smirked. "Sure, Jiejie. Whatever you say."

Qi Lin rolled her eyes playfully. "Says the one excited to see Lu Xia daily."

Qi Ying and Peng Xiang both gasped at Qi Lin's retort before laughing it all out. Qi Lin, also infected with their laughter, tried to put it to a stop "Alright. Alright, let's get back to work. We've got posters to finish."

As they sat back down, Peng Xiang asked in a hopeful manner, "Senior Lin, would you like to come with us tomorrow?"

Commence the puppy eyes from both Peng Xiang and Qi Ying, but Qi Lin didn't budge as she responded, "I'm really sorry girls, but I can't tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment."

"I thought that after the surgery it would all be better, Jiejie."

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 9

Up Next: Chapter 11

As the next day dawned bright and clear, the sun's golden rays reached the bustling tennis courts of the school. Qi Lin stood at the sidelines, a small basket of towels and drinks by her side, her gaze fixed on the matches unfolding before her.

On one court, Jiale and Zhou Zhi faced off in a high intensity match, capturing the attention of many spectators. Qi Lin watched with a smile as the two players showcased their skills, the crowd divided in their support for the competitors.

"Come on, Zhou Zhi! You've got this!" cheered a group of Zhou Zhi's supporters.

Qi Lin couldn't help but smile at the support for her classmates, the friendly rivalry adding to the excitement of the match. She made a mental note to congratulate both players after the match.

Turning her attention to the other court, Qi Lin observed Xinglong and Qiao Chen engaged in a tense battle. Xinglong appeared to have the upper hand, his aggressive play style putting pressure on his opponent.

As the match drew to a close, Xinglong unleashed a powerful return, securing his victory. Qi Lin approached him with a congratulatory smile.

"Great job out there, Xinglong! Here, have a drink and a towel," she said, offering him the refreshments.

Xinglong accepted the offerings with gratitude.

"Thanks, Qi Lin." he replied, a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

Qi Lin then turned her attention to Qiao Chen, who had fought hard despite the odds. She approached him with a towel, offering words of encouragement.

"You did your best out there, Qiao Chen. You should be proud of yourself," she said, handing him the towel.

Qiao Chen nodded, a grateful smile on his face.

"Thanks, Senior Lin. Your words mean a lot," he replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.

As Qiao Chen was about to rest, his eyes caught sight of Lu Xia nearby.

"Hey, Lu Xia!" he called out, jogging over to him and casually wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

"Congrats on making it this far. Senior Yan is going to be a tough opponent. But don't sweat it if you don't win. Just give it your best shot," he advised, his words flowing freely as Lu Xia listened, his expression remaining blank as he removed Qiao Chen's arm from his shoulder.

"Thank you, Senior. But, I'm not planning on losing," Lu Xia stated confidently, setting down his racket bag on the nearby chairs.

At that moment, Qi Lin joined the conversation, reminding Lu Xia of their shared motto.

"Lu Xia, remember our motto?" she asked, to which Lu Xia nodded in affirmation.

"Let's aim for the top!" they declared in unison, their eyes gleaming with determination.

Qi Lin offered some final words of encouragement. "Just give it your all out there. From what I've gathered, Ah-Yan uses data tennis strategy similar to mine but on a far more advanced level."

Lu Xia nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Jiejie Lin," he replied gratefully.

"Anytime. Now, go warm up for your match," Qi Lin instructed, returning to her position to observe the ongoing matches.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhi and Jiale were still locked in the last set of their intense match. Despite Jiale's relentless energy and athleticism, Zhou Zhi's calm and composed demeanor remained constant.

He stayed focused and determined, refusing to let Jiale's flashy playing style throw him off course. With each stroke of the racket, he chipped away at his opponent's defenses, inching closer to victory with every shot.

In the end, Zhou Zhi's skill as a player shone through as he won. His victory elicited cheers from his supporters.

Qi Lin stood there in awe, amazed at him more than ever, more specifically when they had a match together on her first day at Yu Qing

FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qi Lin stands on one side of the court, gently touching her injured wrist, a constant reminder of her physical limitation. Across from her, Zhou Zhi exuded confidence, his movements fluid and precise, a testament to his skill and experience.

In their school uniforms, they look out of place on the tennis court, the borrowed rackets from the club lockers feeling unfamiliar in their hands. Despite the makeshift setup, the determination in Qi Lin's eyes is unmistakable as she prepares to face off against a formidable opponent.

From the first serve, Zhou Zhi's shots are aggressive and well-placed, pushing Qi Lin to her limits. Qi Lin fights to return each ball, her determination evident in every stride, but she struggles to match Zhou Zhi's speed and accuracy.

As the match progresses, Zhou Zhi's dominance is undeniable, with each point stacking up in his favor. Qi Lin's frustration grows with each missed opportunity, her injured hand hindering her ability to execute her shots with precision.

Despite the pressure, Qi Lin refuses to give up, rallying with all her strength to stay in the game. However, Zhou Zhi's relentless onslaught leaves her feeling overwhelmed and outmatched.

Qi Lin heaved heavily from exhaustion as the final point was scored. It was a resounding victory for Zhou Zhi, 6-0, leaving Qi Lin feeling defeated but also awestruck by the skills and techniques demonstrated by her classmate on the other side of the court.

This match between her and Zhou Zhi brought her to a realization that she is far, very far from recovering her injury and it would take a long time before she could go back to the scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snapping back to reality, Qi Lin approached both players, congratulating them and offering drinks and towels as a gesture of sportsmanship.

"Thank you, Qi Lin," Zhou Zhi said appreciatively, accepting the drink and towel.

Jiale echoed his sentiment. "Yeah, thanks. That was a tough match," he added, wiping his face with the towel.

After taking a few sips, Zhou Zhi suddenly asked, "Qi Lin, why are you on the courts instead of in front of the bulletin board?"

Jiale chimed in, "Yeah! Are you actually here to cheer for me?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

"Sure, you can say that," Qi Lin replied with a sweat drop at her classmate's teasing.

She set the basket down on the seats, taking out her notebook from it.

"Today is the last day of the qualifying matches, and I want to assess your techniques," she explained, flipping through the pages and jotting down her observations.

"The main players are about to be determined by this set of matches," she continued, writing her assessment of Zhou Zhi and Jiale's match.

"OH NO! We have another Ah-Yan!" Jiale exclaimed, slightly freaked out by Qi Lin's diligent note-taking.

"That's what I said before," Zhou Zhi smirked at Jiale's reaction.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Qi Lin said, still focused on her writing.

"But Ah-Yan's notes are a lot more detailed, including personal information. I, on the other hand, just write things related to tennis like your play style, shot patterns, signature moves, stuff like that."

~Grrrrr~

Qi Lin suddenly looked up, wondering where the sound of a rumbling stomach had come from.

Jiale blushed, realizing it was his stomach making the noise.

"Hehe. I'll be back! Nature is calling!" he said, excusing himself in need of a bathroom break after the intense match.

As Jiale scurried off, Qi Lin and Zhou Zhi were left alone on the bench. They exchanged glances, and then burst into laughter at Jiale's hurried departure.

Once their laughter died down, Zhou Zhi turned to Qi Lin, a curious look in his eyes.

"So, what do you think of my play?"

Qi Lin paused for a moment, considering her words.

"I think you're a natural counterpuncher, just based on what I saw."

Zhou Zhi nodded, urging her to continue.

"You excel at absorbing your opponent's power and redirecting it with precision," Qi Lin elaborated.

"I noticed how patient you are during rallies, waiting for the right moment to exploit any weaknesses. That patience is a huge advantage."

Zhou Zhi listened attentively, appreciating her insights.

"However," Qi Lin added thoughtfully, "sometimes you can be a bit too patient. It's almost like you're toying with your opponent."

Zhou Zhi raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

She then murmured, pouting slightly, "Like what you did to me back then."

Zhou Zhi chuckled, recalling their past match. "I didn't mean to toy with you. I just want to see what you've got."

Qi Lin smiled, her playful pout turning into a grin.

"Well, you kinda got something out of me. But going back, maybe try mixing in more aggressive shots at unexpected times. Keep your opponents on their toes."

Zhou Zhi nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That's good advice. I'll work on that. Thanks, Qi Lin."

"Anytime," Qi Lin replied warmly. "You're already a fantastic player, Zhou Zhi."

As Qi Lin and Zhou Zhi continued their conversation, Siyang arrived for his match against Dayong, drawing the attention of a crowd of admirers.

Qi Lin couldn't help but flinch at the squeals of Siyang's fangirls, the memory of their recent misunderstanding still fresh in her mind.

Zhou Zhi noticed her discomfort and attempted to reassure her.

"Don't worry, Qi Lin. It's all in the past," he said, offering her a comforting smile.

Qi Lin nodded, grateful for his support. However, her attention was soon drawn back to Siyang as he prepared for his match. She watched with anticipation as the game began, trying to take notes on Siyang and Dayong's strategies and techniques.

The match began with Dayong serving. He mixed up his shots, alternating between powerful groundstrokes and delicate drop shots, keeping Siyang guessing with his tactical approach.

Siyang, however, was unfazed by Dayong's tactics. With every powerful stroke, he asserted his dominance on the court, dictating play with his commanding presence and aggressive shot-making.

He moved effortlessly from the baseline to the net, showcasing his all-court prowess and putting pressure on Dayong with his relentless aggression.

Cheers erupted at Siyang's winning point, prompting Zhou Zhi to joke to Qi Lin, "If you were playing, I think you'd get more fans cheering for you, boys and girls alike."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, you know," she said with a grin, not looking up from her notebook.

She then added, "Besides, I couldn't even get a compliment out of you, much less from other strong players."

"Why not start training again? You can join us during our practice," Zhou Zhi suggested.

"No, thanks. It's not time yet. I just want to focus on my academics since we're already going to college," Qi Lin replied.

Zhou Zhi nodded, understanding her stance.

"I'm going to watch Lu Xia's match. Are you coming?" Zhou Zhi asked.

"I'll just stay here. I already have a feeling on what the outcome on the other side is," Qi Lin answered, gesturing towards the ongoing match.

"Suit yourself," Zhou Zhi said before returning her attention to the match.

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 8

Up Next: Chapter 10