Chapter Text
A Letter
King Charming overlooked her daughter as she trained, her fencing was impeccable as always, but she had a serious look on her face. Wondering what could be troubling his daughter, he sent for her to be brought to his royal office.
Chloe wandered the halls, she was deep in thought, which worried everyone in the castle. Once inside her father’s office, he began his fatherly questioning, “What is troubling you, my love?” Chloe opened her mouth, her father knew her too well and stopped her with a quick motion of his hand, “Don’t try to deny it, your form today was way too rigid, and your face too serious”
She sighed, the blue-haired girl knew her father wouldn’t give up until he heard a real answer, “Chad arrived yesterday”
Her father looked out the window, watching his older son talk with his bride-to-be. He smiled at the sight, he was glad his son found the right match. Sure, Audrey was a tad bit temperamental, but she loved Chad and that was all that mattered. “I’m aware, what does that have to do with anything?”
Chloe rolled her eyes, she huffed out a tired sigh, “He told me that once he marries he’ll be able to exercise his royal duties” she stood up, walking around her father’s office, reading the titles of the old novels her father kept there, “I want to be able to do that too, but apparently I need to be married to serve as a royal”
Charming, feeling sympathy for his daughter, said “I understand, that’s the way the royal costumes have always worked, my love” He moved around as well, hugging his daughter close to his chest, “I know you’ll make a wonderful queen one day, but I don’t want you to wed because of your royal duties”
She cried softly, buried in her father’s chest, “How can I marry for love? I barely know anyone my age!” she moved away from her father, sitting down again, “Chad met Audrey at school, he actually has friends… I don’t”
Seeing his daughter cry broke something inside of him, he knew that he had to do something to help her. They walked together to the kitchen, where the royal cook made her favorite meal that kept her mind off things for a while. Using the distraction, the king made his way back to his office.
He took out several papers, archives, and anything he had to find suitors for his daughter. He never realized there were little to no royals in Chloe's age bracket. But, still determined, he looked for every possible option. Every option was worse than the last, douchie princes, mean princesses, no good noble people, he knew their families and he knew they were no good for his little princess.
He called Cinderella in frustration, “Did you know there are hardly any royals or nobles in Chloe’s age group? This is hard! When are you coming home?”
Cinderella laughed at her husband’s whiney voice, “I’m wrapping up tea time with Bridget, I’ll be home in a couple of hours”
He opened his eyes wide, “Bridget! That’s one option!”
Cinderella made a face, though Charming couldn’t see it through his phone, “You know she’s our age, right… my love?”
He chuckled, “Of course! But her oldest daughter is Chloe’s age, isn’t she?”
Cinderella opened her eyes in realization, “You’re right! Bridget, we have something to discuss!”
Charming ended the call with a smile, he had one option, now he just needed to find two or three more. After scavenging through his files, he found two more valuable options, he was ecstatic. Immediately, he wrote four letters, two for their respective parents and two for the potential suitors.
***
James Hook read the letter with a cheeky smile, he turned to his oldest offspring, “Harry, get your sister for me”
Harry, cleaning his silver hook, sighed “Which one?”
James stood up, smacking his son on the head, he grimaced looking at his father, “The only one that lives with us, boy!”
He nodded, his father had a point, all his other sisters lived elsewhere “Right, right, going”
He moved around their ship, his sister was right where she always was, the main foresail. Harry made gestures to her to grab her attention, when she saw him she climbed down, “What?” she raised a single eyebrow with a smirk.
“Dad’s looking for you” she sighed dramatically, marching down to the captain’s quarters with her brother following close behind. Her father pulled her in a hug, chuckling softly while holding her,
“There you are, my little captain!”
Harry rolled his eyes, he sat down again, cleaning his hook. Hazel moved away from her father, slightly embarrassed with that small interaction, “Did you call for me?”
Her father nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with a special glimmer, “I have something very special for you” Harry’s eyes shot up, expectation written all over his face, “And your brother too” he opened the letter.
“The Royal Kingdom…”
***
“Of Evermere invites you to the yearly Young Leaders Exchange. King Charming selected your profile from several different candidates, we’re happy to inform you that you’re officially invited for the month-long experience. You’ll reside in the castle, engaging in cultural activities everyday” Bridgit read the letter to Red, who rolled her eyes, “You’ll set sail to the land of Evermere next week”
“So, you already decided for me?” Red asked in annoyance.
Bridget chuckled lightly, giving her daughter a side hug, “Come on, my rose! A month long trip, you’ll meet new people, experience new things, and your sibling will go with you”
That piqued Red’s interest, “So, I won’t go alone?”
Bridget shook her head eagerly, “Clocks no! I want you to feel comfortable, your siblings will be right there with you”
Red smiled, “That’s good to know!”
Bridget’s smile disappeared for a second, “But, I’m not sending you three to wreack havoc! You hear me?”
Red nodded, completely sure she was lying to her mother, “No havoc, none at all,” she smiled.
The Queen of Hearts narrowed her eyes, but continued to read the letter, “The castle is…”
***
“Full of history, legends, and magic. There is more to explore at the town of Evermere, and everyday the students will be able to go on their own to explore” Luisa grinned, this was perfect for her young son. Of course, she had received the real letter with the king’s real intentions, but she just read the one addressed to her son.
Luis heard everything, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He wanted to study abroad for so long, and this was his opportunity to do so, “Wow, mom! Do you think they’ll give biology studies?”
Luisa ruffled her son’s hair, “I bet they do!”
Suddenly a thought occurred to Luis, which made his smile fall slightly, “What about abuela, my aunts, uncles, and primos?”
Luisa looked at him in confusion, letting down the donkey resting on her shoulder, “What about the family, pal?” she patted his back, “They will be excited for you!”
“But, I have so much work here…”
She shook her head, “Don’t give any thought to that! We can manage without you for a while, these opportunities come once in a lifetime, sometimes never at all” he smiled brightly again, then her mother continued, “From your file we decided to give you a concentration on biology”
***
“A concentration in sailing and fencing”
Hazel smirked, “Of course, I’m the best at that!”
Harry ruffled her hair, “Not better than me”
She punched him on his gut, making him fall to the ground. “Fair enough” the black haired man huffed out, their father laughed at his children’s antics.
“You guys can take the Scarlet Hook, Harry…” he directed his attention to his son, who was still laying on the ground, holding his gut “I need you to accompany your sister to Evermere, make sure she gets there safe”
Hazel rolled her eyes, gently tapping her foot “But, daddy…”
Her father shook his head, “No whining, my golden hook”
Harry stood up, pushing his sister, “Why is she golden, what am I?”
“You’re my silver hook” he patted his son’s head, “Now, can you do what I asked you to or not?”
Harry nodded, saluting, “Aye, aye, dad” he left the room, getting off the Jolly Roger, and jumping into the Scarlet Hook with a happy snicker.
Her father chuckled again, softly this time, “Well, this ship will feel lonely without its young captain” he touched one of Hazel’s long braids, “I want you to have this” he took out a golden hook with her name engraved with rubies. She took the hook, swirling it around with ease, smiling as she did so. This was the first time she’d gotten a piece of her father’s treasure. He rubbed her shoulder, happy to see that her daughter seemed so in control of the hook already, “It will keep you safe in Evermere”
“Do you think they’ll take us to Auradon?”
James shrugged, “I have no clue, but if you do go, I bet your brother will be happy to see Uma”
***
“A concentration in magic and art” her mother gasped, even though she knew it was a set up, “Ah! How perfect! Your two favorite subjects”
“Well, and while I’m off studying, what will Pink and Max do?”
The queen shrugged, unsure of what to answer, “They could get to know the town, maybe visit Auradon” the queen smiled at her daughter, “Did you know I went to school there?”
Red chuckled, “Right, with Ella and all”
“Right” she grabbed her daughter’s hand, trying to give her some comfort, she had never been away from home before, “At school I met wonderful people, and I know you will do so in this exchange, just… keep an open mind, will you?”
The redhead, watching her mother’s expectant look, sighed agreeing quickly, “Alright, alright, I’ll give it a shot”
The older woman hugged her, giving her a big kiss on her cheek, “That’s all I ask for!”
***
The King got word back quickly, all three families agreeing to send their children as possible suitors for his daughter. He was fairly certain that Chloe favored the company of a lady, but he got one male suitor just in case he was wrong.
The families decided to keep the whole suitor thing under wraps, pretending that they were sending their kids off to an exchange. They knew that was the only way they would agree, and they did.
King Charming wanted his daughter to be able to choose. He wanted her to have friends and fall in love without the pressures of the crown holding her back. So, he decided this was the best way to find her a true match without the expectation of her meeting her future wife or husband the following week.
He told all his plans to Cinderella, she was supportive of her husband’s idea. She found the plan a little shaky, but she decided to give it a go. They met at school years ago, and they fell in love naturally, they wanted their daughter to be able to have that option as well. Ella, however, wondered about Chloe’s reaction when she found out the truth. But, Charming assured her that he would handle everything with grace, so she left everything under his care, trusting his good judgment.
Charming told his daughter that they would have some exchange students for a month. Finally, after days of her sulking, he managed to make her smile with those news.
She wondered about all the possibilities. She could study with new people, she could finally have some friends of her own, and who knows, maybe she could find a match.
The day before their arrival she hardly slept, expectation keeping her awake.
She didn’t know the chaos that their arrival would ensue.