#askcora

Do I look like Snow White to you?

Cora sat on a stool in Ursula’s Fish and Chips, a cup of old coffee poised in front of her lips.  Like everyone else on the Isle, she had her eyes fixed on the lone TV screen to see King Ben’s coronation.  She wasn’t sure whether to smile or scowl as the camera panned across the crowd, showing pictures of people she’d once called her friends.  Mal. Evie. Carlos. Jay.  All of them dressed to the nines, smiling, waving without a care in the world. 

Both boys looked dashing, of course.  Jay had always had a certain roguish charm to him, and his brown leather garb fit him perfectly.  Carlos was also impeccably dressed in red, white, and black- and was that a dog he was holding?  Cora almost spat out her coffee in shock, but she couldn’t restrain a laugh afterwards.  No villain kid had it good- God, she hated the irony of that expression -but Carlos’ mom was a particularly nasty piece of work.  Cora was happy he appeared to have gotten over the fear of dogs Cruella had instilled in him.

Evie, of course, was stunning in blue, an elegant tiara perched on her head.  And then there was Mal, in a breath-taking gown whose collar couldn’t help but remind Cora of a dragon. Prince- soon to be King -Ben began to stride down the aisle, resplendent in a royal uniform of blue and gold. 

Cora watched the ensuing events, like all the other villains, with awe as Mal stood up to her mother.  She swallowed, unsure she’d ever be able to do what Mal had.  Cora loved her mother, and she was sure her mother loved her in her own way (she hoped), but she wondered…what would it be like to step out of the shadow of the Queen of Hearts?  What if Cora was just…well, herself?  Sure, Cora enjoyed her title and wanted to keep it, but the legacy of the Queen of Hearts…she wasn’t sure how she felt about all of that. 

As Cora gazed at all of the children of heroes and heroines joyfully dancing together, she sipped her coffee and wondered if she’d ever go to a ball in a bejeweled dress of her own.  She could picture it so clearly: gorgeous red satin sweeping the floor, a sparkling ruby tiara in her hair, a handsome prince twirling her around…

Uma, I’m not sure I’d be a good member of the crew.  I’m not the best at taking orders.  But I might consider being your ally.  What are you thinking? Are you planning something? @askshrimpy

Wow, this doesn’t scream “Uma totally convinced me to do this” at all. 

1. Her full title is, “Her Imperial Highness, Her Grace, Her Excellency, Her Royal Majesty, Corazana, the Princess of Hearts.”  But she just goes by Cora because she thinks Corazana sounds like the name of a stereotypical princess. 

2.  She doesn’t have magical powers, but she knows how to put magical ingredients together to make a potion that would have magical effects...if only she could get past the barrier. 

3.  Because she doesn’t have powers, she learned to fight when she was very young.  Her favorite weapon is a croquet mallet, especially when someone throws her title in her face, but since there aren’t too many mallets on the Isle, she’s learned how to use a dagger too.

4.  Cora couldn’t decide whether to go to either Mal’s or Uma’s super sinister 13 parties, and spent up until the last minute choosing because she genuinely liked both girls (as much as you can be friends with anyone on the Isle).

5. She hates to admit it, but her temper can flare up almost as quickly as her mother’s.  Though she has just barely managed to resist the urge to behead anyone so far.

6.  The fact she even thinks about beheading anyone scares her. 

7.  So does the fact she sometimes fantasizes about going to Auradon, just to see for herself what it’s like.

8. She makes off like she doesn’t care, but her appearance really matters to her. 

9. She has only ever dated two people (so far).

10.  Cora loves to sing, and is actually very good at it...but never sings on the Isle, because the last thing she wants to look like is a “goody-two-shoes” princess.