Chapter Text
Red gasped and jolted forward, trying to get her bearings. Time travel was very disorienting. It was like waking up from a dream where you're falling but never hit the ground. She had woken up, and was trying to fight the dizziness that was clouding her senses. Come on Red, focus! A voice broke through her racing thoughts,
“Now, I never got the chance to go to Auradon Prep,” Red looked up to see Uma and her crew standing on the stage before her, “but as its captain, I’m proud to be charting a new course to a bright future.”
Right! The Auradon Welcome Ceremony. Red scanned the crowd for Chloe. She was a few rows away and had a terrified expression on her face. She was sitting next to her mother, who before they traveled back in time was about to get beheaded. Speaking of-
“Do you mind?” Uma directed her attention to the woman shuffling cards in the front row. This was it, when they found out if stopping the prank really worked.
“I do, actually” The Queen of Hearts responded in that familiar chilling voice. Shit.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Red was panicked. If time travel couldn't stop this then what could?
“Playing my favorite game…” Shit shit shit- not again, not ag- “Hearts!” The queen joyously threw a deck of cards into the air that magically transformed into sparkling heart-shaped bubbles. The crowd was amazed at the display. Red looked for Chloe, who was just as surprised as she was. They looked at each other and Red shrugged as if to say I guess we won? Chloe smiled back and nodded, guess so!
The Queen of Hearts spoke again, drawing their attention, “Oh! I’m so sorry, I couldn't help myself!” My mom apologizing? This is definitely a different future… Red thought. The Queen turned back to face Red, “I’m just so excited for my daughters to be here.” What? Daughters… what is she-
“Oh mom, you're so wonderful!” A voice to Red’s left spoke. She whipped her head around to see who it was and Wow that's a lot of pink! The girl sitting next to her was the spitting image of her mother in high school, pink ruffles and all. But she wasn't- she couldn't be! “We’re excited to be here too!” The girl turned to Red, “Right, sis?”
What the FUCK did we do to the timeline…
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Red couldn't have gotten to Auradon Prep any faster. She had been dodging red frills and unbroken hearts all morning! Not to mention the incessant princessy singing coming from her annoying new sister, Pink, and her mom of all people. She just needed a chance to talk to Chloe. Whatever was going on they could figure it out together. But first, Red had to shake her.
“Come on Red, let’s go!”
“Uh, how about you go on ahead and I’ll meet with you later.”
“Are you sure? Robbie and Luis are probably waiting for us…” who the fuck are Robbie and Luis?
“I’m sure. Go on, I’ll catch up.”
“Alright then…” Pink looked confused, maybe even disappointed, but Red didn’t have time for that right now. Time to find Chloe.
Red walked the grounds of the school trying to memorize the lay of the land while looking for her friend. It was her first time actually getting to look around Auradon. Much to her surprise, Red kind of lik- didn’t hate it. It reminded her of the castle she grew up in, but here the walls didn’t feel so oppressive. Students walked wherever they pleased, and seemed friendly. Maybe too friendly. People kept smiling and waving at her which was a change of pace from what she was used to. Why were they scared of her? Or at least giving her side eyes…
“Red! Oh thank goodness”
“Chloe!” The two hug. “We need to talk, something is seriously up with this timeline.”
“I know right? My mom is way more strict. She’s even more of a rule follower than I was before I- well, before I met her!” At least her head's still attached. Red chose to keep that thought to herself. “I don’t know why she’s acting like her past doesn't exist. I thought knowing her when she was my age would make us closer, but now I feel farther from her than ever.”
“Yeah, I also thought things would be better since my mom is good now, but it feels exactly the same as before. Except instead of becoming the next evil queen of wonderland she wants me to be like that pink monstrosity calling itself my sister.” Chloe laughed before schooling her expression,
“Be nice to her Red, she seems… sweet!” Red rolled her eyes.
“Always the hero.”
“Don’t throw stones yet,” Chloe responded with a smirk, “looks like you’re an HK now too.”
“What!?” Sure, the timeline had changed, but was she seriously expected to change with it? Red lived her whole life as a VK alone in an exiled land, was she just supposed to ignore that now? “No, I’m not an- wait HK? That sounds stupid as fu-”
Without warning someone picked Red up from behind, wrapping their arms around her waist and spinning her around. She tried to kick out of it but their hold was too strong.
“Woah! Red,” she was put down and quickly spun herself to see who her attacker was. “It’s just me.” Red stared blankly. She had never seen this man in her life. He was big, not so tall, but obviously very strong. He had curly dark hair and was wearing a yellow vest? That’s a choice. She must have been making a face because suddenly his hand was on her cheek as he asked with a worried look,
“Are you ok mi rosa?” First of all, he might not be her type but she has to give it to him, that was a little hot. Second of all, WHO THE FUCK WAS THIS MAN???
A second guy was approaching just behind the first. He patted ugly-vest on the shoulder, then bowed before the three of them.
“Lords and ladies,” this stranger wore a green jacket, and had several small pouches tied to his belt. “May thine royal highnesses dawn good spirits this merry morning!” Red and Chloe looked at each other confused. The stranger cleared his throat awkwardly, “uh, ‘good morning!’ I mean…” Red was starting to think whatever version of her that was here before was a total loser.
The yellow vest laughed, “‘Merry morning’ to you too Robbie.” Robbie… didn’t pink mention a ‘Robbie’ would be waiting for them? Chloe jumped into the conversation.
“Yes! Merry morning Robbie, son of Robin Hood, and to you too Luis, son of Luisa Madrigal.” Thank Walt for Chloe! Red sent her an appreciative look. Now it was the boys turn to look confused. Red saw this as an opportunity,
“Good to see you two, but we better get going.” Red took Chloe by the arm and started turning away. Luis called after them,
“Red, wait!” She did not wait. “Are you sure you're ok?”
“Yep!” why did people keep asking her that?
“See you at lunch?” Why is he still talking.
“Sure!” She said in an overly peppy voice. Red was slowly piecing together who these people thought she was. She wore bows and unbroken hearts, had a sickeningly sweet sister, and was possibly dating some big jock guy? It’s not that she missed the old timeline, but at least there people knew who she really was. They were all in for a rude awakening.