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“…so you’re telling me that Tourney is a game where you’re allowed to hit each other?”
“Within reason,” Chloe said, offering Red a handful of popcorn with a smile. “Fun, huh?”
“Seems a little barbaric, but I guess.” Red accepted the tasty token without hesitation, groaning happily as the buttery taste melted across her tongue. Ahead, their moms walked with the security detail, red and blue hand in hand. “It’s still kinda weird to see them as best friends,” Red mumbled, mindlessly fixing her lipstick with a nail.
“I think it’s sweet,” Chloe chirped, giggling lightly as she grabbed Red’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “And, eventually, we’ll tell them about us.”
Red smiled too, closing her hand around Chloe’s and rocking their arms. The relationship was still new, seeing as—to everyone else—they’d only just met. But traveling through time did wonders for getting to know a person. It was only natural that their friendship changed into something more. Red just wished they weren’t out in public so she could properly kiss her girlfriend.
Shaking the thought away (they’d have time to make out later), Red took in Arcadia University’s impressive Tourney stadium. It was massive, filled with people and blasted with bright white light. It was loud too, the air filled with cheers and music. It was enough to make her ears ring.
“Don’t worry, we have a private box,” Chloe said, leaning in close in order to be heard. “It’ll be quieter there.”
“Thank goodness.” Red massaged a temple with a wince. She was still used to the stale silence of Wonderland. Obviously things were much different now, filled with music and laughter under her mother’s reign (under Bridget’s reign. This was Bridget). But still, sixteen years in near silence? Yeah, a sports match was a little much. But, as Chloe promised, they avoided the main set of bleachers, getting into an elevator and heading towards the very top floor instead. This muffled the crowd noise to something more manageable, and Red sighed in relief as Chloe squeezed her hand.
“I’m really glad you came,” she whispered, giving her a bump with one hip. “I know this isn’t really your thing.”
“I wanted to,” Red agreed, rubbing her thumb across Chloe’s knuckles, only to quickly release it as her mom turned with a grin. It was still alarming, having her so excited about anything that wasn’t a beheading.
“This is all very exciting, isn’t it, Red?” She asked, grinning from ear to ear. The accent was still there, even after they changed the past, and it made Red wonder where it came from. “Perhaps we should try Tourney in Wonderland. Croquet is hardly as invigorating.”
“Chad is a starter for Arcadia University,” Queen Ella explained with an easy grin. “He’s quite passionate about it.”
“I’m very interested in this game, as I am interested in meeting the son you speak so highly of.”
“I’ve told Chad all about you and Red,” Ella urged, wrapping both hands around the Red Queen’s arm. “I’m excited for him to meet you both.”
“My big brother’s head is way too big,” Chloe mumbled, causing Red to chuckle. “But he’s a great Tourney player.”
The elevator doors opened to a long, luxurious hallway. Following behind the adults, she took Chloe’s hand again, swinging it mindlessly. Reaching the correct box, it was blissfully quiet compared to outside. A balcony of comfortable leather chairs overlooked the field, giving them a great view, while tables had been piled high with fresh fruit, sweet treats, and barbecue on sticks. King Charming was already present, fussing over a tall blonde boy in a white uniform.
This must’ve been Chad, Chloe’s brother.
“He doesn’t look anything like you,” she whispered to her girlfriend in surprise, causing Chloe to laugh.
“No, he doesn’t. My grandfather’s genetics run strong; he looks just like him.”
“Oh.” Nodding her understanding, Red noticed someone else was in the box too. Someone she didn’t know. The woman was stout but well built, sunkissed with kinky brown hair pulled into a wild ponytail. She was pacing out on the balcony, seemingly on the phone with someone.
“My brother’s girlfriend, Audrey,” Chloe said, noticing her line of sight.
“Fiancé,” Chad corrected, patting his dad on the shoulder and extending his arms. “Chloe!”
“Hey Chad.” Chloe all but jumped into the boy's arms as he swung her around. “I’ve missed you at home.”
“No you don’t, but nice try.” Chad ruffled Chloe’s curls, grinning ear to ear. “You like having mom and dad to yourself.”
“Maybe just a little.” Chloe’s nose wrinkled with her smile as she took Red’s arm, pulling her closer. “Chad, this is my friend Red.”
Red awkwardly lifted her hand. “Uh, hi.”
“Chloe won’t shut up about you,” Chad teased, offering a friendly hand wave in return (Red was just grateful he didn’t attempt to hug her). “I’m Chad, her disarmingly handsome, super smart, super charming big brother.”
Red quirked a lip. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Don’t let him lie to you.” The woman from the balcony re-entered the box, returning her phone to her pocket. “He’s handsome, but not that handsome.”
“You wound me,” Chad pouted, instantly pulling Audrey to his side and kissing her temple as she playfully shoved him off. Audrey was quite pretty, neat in a loose pink jumpsuit and gold accessories. But it was the scarring she had that made Red pause. The burns curled around every limb like encroaching thorns; no part of her was untouched. Audrey seemed unbothered by her staring, rich brown eyes keen as she offered a hand.
“Audrey Rose. I’ve heard a lot about you, Princess Red.”
“Thank you. Just Red, please. It’s uh, nice to meet you.” Accepting the gesture, Red felt a tingle of static jump across her skin. Audrey either didn’t notice or wasn’t surprised as she smiled. Strange.
“Can I see it, Audrey?” Chloe asked, practically jumping up and down. “Please?”
“Chad spent enough money, I might as well show it off.” Taking back her arm, Audrey offered her opposite hand, revealing a ring with a massive diamond setting.
“Holy roses,” Red breathed in amazement. “Look at that thing.”
“Isn’t it stunning?” Audrey preened as Chloe took her hand, admiring the artifact. “Although, I did ask for something small?”
“For my princess? Only the best,” Chad scoffed, shaking his head. “I don’t do small.”
“We’re very happy for you, dear,” Ella said, taking Audrey’s hands to admire the ring herself. “My goodness, it is splendid though, isn’t it? What do you think, Bridget?”
“Reminds me of the ruby my husband gave me,” the Red Queen mused without skipping a beat. “I do miss that man. You’re a lucky girl, Miss Rose.”
“Thank you, your highnesses,” Audrey chuckled, giving Chad an elbow. “The match is going to start soon, you need to head downstairs, sir.”
“Right. I’ll see you after?”
“Seeing as I’m your ride home, you’d better,” Audrey joked, accepting a very quick but passionate kiss from Chad before he ran off, clattering in his under armor.
With the pleasantries out of the way, it wasn’t long before the Tourney game began and everyone settled down. For a while Red was interested, watching Arcadia University and Arthurian University duke it out on the pitch. But she soon found her mind drifting. Chloe was sitting at the very edge of her seat, matching her father’s excitement every time a goal was scored or a foul was made. Red played with her blue curls all the while, rubbing them between her fingertips. Only when she felt a pair of eyes on her did she turn.
Audrey was looking her way. Red expected her to turn back around, but she stood instead, rounding the back of the seats to touch Red’s shoulder.
“Take a walk with me,” she mumbled, nodding her head towards the hall. “We need to chat.”
Gulping, Red waited till Audrey was fully out of sight before standing too. Chloe pulled her eyes from the match, furrowing her brows.
“Red? Where are you going?”
“Just to the restroom, I’ll be right back.”
“Oh. I can come with you…”
“No, you might miss something important.” Red winced as King Charming jumped up, calling for a foul on the latest play. “I won’t be long.”
“If you’re sure,” Chloe frowned, settling back into her chair. “But if you don’t come back I’ll come find you.”
“Deal.” Resisting the urge to kiss her girlfriend's head, Red skirted out of the box and into the hall. Audrey was waiting for her just outside the door, casually leaning against the wall. “So um…what’s up?”
“I hope you’re not experiencing too many side effects,” Audrey said, causing Red to furrow her brows in confusion.
“Side effects from…what?”
“Magic is a powerful and tricky thing, you know,” the woman continued, crossing a leg as she gave Red a very knowing stare. “You shouldn’t be messing around with it.”
“I…you can’t know that.” Startled, Red shook her head and stepped back. No one had even noticed their present had changed. Not Ella or her mom, not Uma, not anyone. It was a secret between her and Chloe. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t have to hide it, I’m not going to tell,” Audrey insisted, pushing from the wall. “But you and Chloe are steeped in magic. It’s wafting off you both like a strong perfume.”
“How could you possibly…?”
“Magic begets magic, Red. It recognizes its own kind.” Audrey snapped her fingers, creating a brief dazzle of pinkish sparks. “I would know.”
“You…” Red felt her jaw open in surprise. “But how?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the ‘scepter incident’?” Audrey made air quotes with her fingers, rolling her eyes as she placed a hand on her chest. “Yeah, that was me.”
“That was you?” Red blinked in shock. She had heard about the scepter incident, though the details were always a bit skewed. She knew someone had taken Maleficent’s evil scepter and tried to curse Auradon with it. She had no clue she was standing with a very famous villain. Someone her mother (her old mother, not Bridget) would’ve loved to meet.
“Mhm. I’m not proud of it, but it’s part of my past. Magic has a way of lingering, even if it’s only temporary. And girl, you’ve got it all over you. So, I ask again. Are you experiencing any side effects?”
Red hesitantly shook her head: “Um, no. Not that I know of.”
“Hmm, that’s a bit concerning.”
“Concerning how? Isn’t no side effects a good thing?”
“You’d think. But magic always leaves a trace. It doesn’t like being messed with and it leaves…marks.” Audrey ghosted a hand across a scar on her face, wincing. “I don’t know what you and Chloe did to come off reeking of a magic factory, but you have to be careful. That being said, you should probably tell the Queen whatever it was you both got up to.”
“I can’t tell Ella…I mean…” catching her error, Red cleared her throat. “Queen Ella doesn’t know anything about magic.”
“Not that Queen, Red. You need to tell Queen Mal before something bad happens to you or to Chloe.”
“Nothing’s happened yet,” Red insisted, frowning as she glanced back towards the box. “We did what we needed to do and it worked.”
“It may seem fine now, but I can guarantee something is going to happen. It’s best not to wait unless you want to end up like I did.” Waving at her skin, Audrey’s brows furrowed. “I’m just warning you, Red. I can tell you care about Chloe; maybe as more than just a friend?” Audrey’s head tilted as Red curled her fists. “You wouldn’t want something bad to happen to her. And I don’t need anything bad happening to either of you when I may be able to stop it.”
“I’ll…think about it.”
“It’s best that you do.” Audrey reached into her pocket, offering a paper card from between her fingers. “If you don’t want to tell Mal, my phone is always on. If anything happens, call me.”
Accepting the token, Red made note to keep it in a safe place as she flipped it between her hands. “Also, if you didn’t already know, I care about Chloe too.” Audrey gave her a very brief (but very intimating) scowl. “Break her heart and I break you. Clear?”
Red swallowed. “Yup.”
“Good. Glad we’re on the same page.” Audrey passed by her, vanishing down the hall just as Chloe appeared from inside their box.
“Red?”
“Yeah?”
“Everything ok?”
“Totally. Just…talking to Audrey.” Pointing to where the other woman vanished, Red tucked her card into an open pocket of her jacket. “Chloe, you don’t think we did the wrong thing, do you?”
“No?” Chloe laughed, saddling into her hip. Seeing as they were alone, she lovingly gave Red a kiss on the cheek. “Everything’s perfect. Our mom’s are best friends now, and I get to be with you at Auradon Prep.”
“Right. Perfect.” Red rubbed her fingers together, feeling the static lingering there. Audrey’s warning hung in her mind too.
Things were perfect, but how long would they stay that way?