Chapter Text
The silence in the room was so fragile it seemed about to shatter. Bridget stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, staring at the rippling surface of the Magic Mirror. It wasn't her sweet, hopeful face reflected there, but the image of a ruthless monarch, dressed in blood red, with a gaze so cold it chilled her to the bone.
"That... is that me?" Bridget murmured, taking a step forward and startling Red and Chloe, who jumped.
Red swallowed, exchanging a guilty glance with Chloe before nodding slowly.
"I need to know what happened," Bridget demanded, her voice unusually firm. "What made me... that?"
Red sighed, knowing she couldn't hide it any longer. She told her about the prank. Such a cruel and humiliating act during the ball that it would completely break her spirit. He explained how the sweet Bridget from Merlin Academy would distance herself from everyone, locking her heart away so no one could hurt her anymore, becoming cold, calculating, and ruthless.
Bridget listened silently, a lump forming in her throat. But there wasn't time to fully process the tragedy. The clock was ticking, and Red and Chloe had a mission to accomplish.
"We have to go," Chloe said, adjusting her sword. "If Uliana and her gang steal the forbidden book from Merlin's office, things will be much worse."
The night unfolded in a whirlwind of magic and adrenaline. Red and Chloe burst into the headmaster's office just in time, but history had already begun to rewrite itself. The Vks' plan had gone horribly wrong, but with a slight twist: when the book's magical trap was triggered, instantly freezing Uliana, Morgie, Hades, and Maleficent, someone was spared.
James Hook had stayed outside, leaning against the stone wall, watching the corridors. Hearing the magical crash, he knew the attack had failed and vanished into the shadows before anyone could catch him.
The next morning, outside the academy gates, Red and Chloe prepared to say goodbye to Bridget and her best friend, Ella.
"Be very careful tonight at Prince Charming's Royal Ball," Red warned them, giving Bridget a hug. "The spell neutralized almost everyone, but Hook is still free. He's the only VK left, and if you were planning anything big, he might try to finish the job."
With that warning hanging in the air, Ella and Bridget locked themselves in their room. They weren't going to let fear ruin the night, but they weren't going to be easy prey either. They needed a plan.
"If Hook is looking for you, he won't find you," Ella said with a sly smile.
They began the transformation. Bridget set aside her usual pastel and pink hues. She donned a long, flowing red wig that cascaded like a fiery waterfall over her shoulders. Ela helped her adjust a stunning pirate-style dress, romantic and daring, in shades of dark red and black, with lace that lent her an air of mystery. Finally, with a swift flick of her wand, Ela murmured a spell: Bridget's signature heart details vanished, and the color of her eyes changed completely, hidden behind a delicate dark mask.
When Bridget looked in her own mirror that night, she didn't see the sweet girl everyone knew. She saw someone new. Someone in control of her own destiny.
The grand hall of Prince Charming's castle was bathed in golden light. Hundreds of candles floated in the air, casting a magical, blue glow over the guests. Bridget walked among the crowd, feeling invincible in her disguise, when she suddenly stopped.
Across the hall, leaning casually against a marble column, stood him.
He wore his signature pristine red jacket, black trousers with gold accents, and that unmistakable air of rebellious elegance. It was James Hook. The only boy who, secretly, had caught her eye since the first day she set foot in Merlin Academy. And when Hook looked up and his eyes met the mysterious redhead across the track, the rest of the world, the villains, the warnings, and the future... simply vanished.