Chapter Text
After going through time, the morning was the least of Red’s worries. After getting home from the event yesterday at Auradon, she had basically crashed as soon as she found her room. It was in the same place as before, so she didn’t have to worry about getting lost. Though now that she was awake, she was noticing the differences.
Like, for one, there was way too much glitter for her liking. Though she didn’t really have enough time to really look around before a bunch of random people were entering her room and opening the windows. Red froze in shock, just watching these people working around her room, and she barely had time to take a breath before she was getting swept off her bed.
Once she was on her feet, her now nice mother was walking into her room and patting her cheeks. “Good morning, time to wake you. A big day today.” Her mother spoke happily as she led her over to the chair in the middle of the room.
“I do?” Red was really confused. She had no clue what was happening; all she knew was people around her were holding up clothes.
A second later, a girl in all pink was walking into her room with a happy tone. “Hey sister, first day of school together, I just can’t wait.”
Red points to the girl with a confused tone. “That’s new…”
Queen Bright speaks up again from behind Red. “Oh sweetheart, you’re glowing. Which dress will you go in?”
Pink rides over on a cart with clothes on it. “Your favorite bow is right here.”
Red just stays on the chair in shock. “This is weird.”
It takes all of twenty minutes for Red to be ready for school. Red was freaking out the whole time. She was so used to being able to walk around Wonderland with everyone keeping their eyes down that now that they see a perfect princess, she had no clue what to do.
As she was walked out of the castle, a car was just waiting for her. This time it wasn’t her mother driving. Another random person was behind the wheel, and they started to drive off. Pink popped out of the back with a smile.
The drive to school was quiet. Well, it wasn’t really; Pink was talking the whole time. But Red wasn’t listening. All she really wanted to do was talk to Chloe and see if her day was just as weird as hers was. Luckily, as they pulled up to the school, Chloe was right at the front gate, pacing back and forth. And as soon as she saw Red, she was basically running over to her.
“Red! Thank goodness. I was really starting to freak out.” Chloe stood right next to Red as she got out of the car. “My mother is more strict than ever now. She even followed me here.”
“Well, mine is nice now.” Red looked over at Chloe, and she also saw Pink skipping off somewhere. “Also, I apparently have a sister now.”
Chloe looked back and saw Pink skipping to the field. She looked taken aback for a second before she looked right back at Red.
“Great, so we’re both freaking out.” Red just nodded as they both started walking into the school grounds. While they were freaking out, everyone else was singing and dancing like this was just another day. They made way for Chloe and Red as they walked.
They tried to make their way into the school, but before they could even get within five feet of the door, two men Red had never seen before were cheering and walking towards them.
“Who are those two men walking towards us?” Red looked over at Chloe since she should at least know who they were.
“That’s Luis Madgiral and Robbie Hood.” Chloe didn’t have any more time to explain before the guys were basically in their faces.
They sang in their faces for a moment before Pink joined back in and they started to make their way again. This time they were stopped by another group of kids waiting for them. This time, instead of singing in their faces, they were just standing there. Pink walked up to them first, which made Chloe and Red follow since it would seem weird if they didn’t.
Pink started talking to the group, and while they had a conversation, Red and Chloe just shared looks. Red looked at the group in front of them; she knew who a few of them were. I mean, the hook on one of their hands makes it clear the girl must be related to Captain Hook somehow. And the two men behind her had to be the Smees. The matching outfits made it way more than clear.
It took her a second to figure out who the man in the purple clothes was, but once she saw the cards in his hand, it made sense. I mean, there were only two villains who used cards. And although she woke up with one sibling, she also knew just based on the way both Red and Pink looked. If his hair wasn’t red or pink, there was no way he could have Heart's blood in him. Also, just the way he looked at others was giving her a creepy feeling.
And the last person in the group she knew just based on his face. Max Hatter, her old mentor’s son. Except this wasn’t the kid she knew. She was used to seeing him in button-downs and bowties, but the coat he was in now almost made him look like a whole different person.
Red knew that messing with time came with some consequences, but now she was starting to actually worry about what changed. In the original timeline, Maddox had been the advisor to the evil queen. But now if the queen was good, then who in Wonderland would take her place? And given the fact Max was hanging around with clearly VKs, it seemed like the answer was right in her face.
Before Red could join the conversation with the group, they were swept up with other students still singing. It probably only took maybe a couple more minutes for everyone to finish singing. It felt like it took forever. Once she and Chloe were let off the shoulders of the random people holding them up. They quickly stepped away from everyone.
“Okay, this is weird.” Red looked over to where the group was gathered. Pink was talking to Luis and Robbie while the other half of the group was tricking some other random students into watching a hat trick while the girl with the hook took coins out of their pockets.
“I know, I know. This is crazy. Nothing really makes sense right now.” Chloe watched the group as well as the spoke.
“I feel so out of place right now.” Red had no clue what to do. She was lost in a world she should know.
“Probably because you are. You're used to being a VK, but now your a HK.” Chloe gave Red a small smile. Red forgot about that part. If her mother wasn’t a villain, that made her a hero. No wonder why people were all of a sudden not afraid to look her in the eyes.
“Right. Great, now I need to figure out how to act nice.” Red really had no clue what she was supposed to do. I mean, she was so used to being able to do whatever she wanted without really any punishments. So now, with people watching he she felt really lost. “I’m not even really sure who all those people are.”
“Oh right.” Chloe glanced at Red before she started explaining. “Okay, so I know all but one. I pointed out Luis and Robbie earlier, but if you can’t remember who’s who, just know the one who’s almost always flexing is Luis.”
Chloe took a deep breath before she continued. Pointing to the rest of the group, Red only had guesses of their parents. “The one with the cards is Felix Faciler. He’s more creepy than anything.” She then points to the one with the hook and the twins behind her. “Hazel Hook and the Smee twins. Where she goes, they follow.” Then she whispers. “And I don’t know how the one in the hat is.”
“I do. Max Hatter.” Red sighs and looks at Chloe. “He’s Madoxx Hatter’s son. My mom's old adviser. What is he doing with the VK’s?”
“Oh… He wasn’t a VK before, so…” Chloe looks down, the meaning clear.
“Whatever else we changed made Maddox a villain,” Red stated coldly. She had been reeling from all that had changed. Now she felt guilty. Maddox had been one of her only friends, and in changing her mother, she changed him. She had no clue what had happened, but clearly it wasn’t good.
“We should probably go over there. They're starting to stare.” Chloe's words broke Red’s train of thought, and sure enough, the group was looking over at them. Red took a breath as they started to make their way over to the group.
They took their place next to everyone. Red and Chloe stayed next to each other. Luckily, no one batted an eye. They listened to what everyone was saying, though their eyes kept going to each other every couple of minutes. Luis and Robbie were talking to them, but luckily Pink took over answering once they took more than a minute to respond.
Red couldn’t see where all the VK’s had gone, but she was sure at least a couple of them were scamming other students again. She looked around for a second, but when Luis spoke up, she had to look away.
“You two have seemed weirdly quiet today. You okay?” Chloe and Red shared a look before they both answered.
“I’m fine. Just tired.” Red spoke first.
“Sorry, I’ve just been spacey all day. I forgot to grab breakfast.” Chloe’s lie was way more believable, as no one questioned her, but Pink questioned Red.
“How are you tired? You weren’t straight to bed as soon as you and Mom got back yesterday.” Pink raises an eyebrow as she speaks.
“I have no clue. I just feel like I need another few hours of sleep.” Red quickly responded. It was believed half the time whenever people go to bed earlier, they still wake up tired. She just hoped it was common enough to where it wasn’t hard to believe.
“Oh, I get that. Sometimes I can get like nine hours of sleep and still feel like I got none.” Robbie spoke up now for what was the first time Red paid attention to him.
Red was so glad he shared his experience with it instead of questioning her more. “Yeah, it’s the worst.” She quickly yawned to sell the act.
“You should probably try and go to bed earlier again tonight then.” Luis looked at her when he spoke. “Don’t try and push it.”
“Yeah, I will. I’ll take it easy today.” Red relaxed a little as the attention went off her and on to Chloe.
Pink was walking towards Chloe while digging into the small purse on her hip. She brought out a small package of what Red could only make out as candy. “I know it’s not the best breakfast, but it’s something.” She handed it to Chloe and stepped back.
“Thanks, Pink.” Chloe does end up eating some of the candy before putting the rest in her pocket. She’ll probably have to remind her about them later. Red already knows Chloe has a lot going on in her head just as she does. So to be honest, that candy probably will be forgotten about.
Red tried to pay attention to what was being said, but her mind kept wandering back to the fact that Max Hatter was nothing as she knew. He was a nice kid when she was growing up. I mean, he was the only other kid in the castle. They were never really close, but there was an unspoken alliance between them.
She had no clue how they were with each other now. I mean, if Maddox was a villain, then what would Max be like? Red knew a person was different than their parents. I mean, she grew up with her mother threatening to chop off people's heads, and yet she never was really like her. I mean, sure, Red was rude, but she never took it that far. Hopefully whatever happened to Maddox didn’t make Max evil.
She’d have to talk with Chloe later to see if they could find out what happened to Maddox to make him a villain. But Red doubted that they would have any time to talk alone for a while. I mean, they were barely talking for three minutes earlier, and the group had noticed. So they’ll probably have to sneak off.
Red was about to pull Chloe in to ask if she wanted to use the washroom with her, but before she could, Red felt a pair of arms wrap around her and a head on her shoulder. Before she could even think about who it could be, she was already taking a step forward with a surprised action.
The whole group seemed to freeze as Red looked behind her. Chloe even looked really confused. As she turned, she could see it was Max who was behind her. He was standing there with his eyebrows raised and a really confused look on his face. Before he looked at her and chuckled.
“Did I surprise you, Red?” His words seemed to break everyone else out of the trance, and a small chuckle came from almost everyone.
“Okay, you must be really tired. You always notice when he does that.” Pink chuckles as Red tries to figure out her bearing. Clearly, whatever her relationship is with Max must be good because no one seemed surprised he did that.
Max took a step toward her, and Red made herself stay in place. “You good, Red? You seem off today.”
“Uh, yeah, I’m fine… Just tried.” Red looked towards Chloe for help, but she looked as lost as Red felt.
“You sure? We could go find somewhere to sit if you need.” Max moved closer to her and started to look concerned.
Max gave her a look before he just shrugged, but before he could speak, Hazel spoke up from behind him. “It’s the first day, Max. Of course she’s tried.”
Red was thankful someone else spoke up. She really wasn’t sure what else she was going to say. After the attention was off her, everyone else went back to talking, and while she was still next to Chloe, Max now stood next to her, and after a minute his arm ended up on her shoulder. Red was trying her best not to react, but she really needed to figure out what was going on. She might have to play Pink later into spilling what she knows.
The group was talking for a moment before a commotion took everyone’s attention. All of a sudden, a card was coming rushing at them. Everyone stopped for a second while the other students around them did. Red was about to step and grab it, but Max pulled her back and grabbed it himself before it could get too close to her.
He glanced at it for a second before handing it to Red. She looked down at the card for a moment as it repeated the same message. “Maddox Hatter has captured the queen; come quickly.” Everyone stopped moving as the words replayed.
Max stared at the card as Red tried to make sense of everything. She knew Maddox had to be evil if his son was hanging out with VKs, but she never thought about the fact he could be actively evil. Let alone that he would capture her mother.
Pink stepped closer to the card with a panicked look on her face. “Oh my hearts!” She took a couple short breaths. “Mom’s been captured!” And almost as soon as those words were out of her mouth, she fainted. Luckily, Luis was behind her to catch her as she fell.
In the moment as Pink was coming back, Red and Chloe shared a look. They knew they had to do something. Even if they had no clue what was going on, it was tenchilly their fault since whatever was about to happen was the result of their time in the past.