Work Text:
The strands of time still held on to both of them. It weaved itself through their locks of hair, all the way down to their souls. Red knew they could never escape the consequences of what they'd done. Dealing with time always leads to repercussions. A life for a life, an evil for another evil. She never expected it to happen so soon, and never expected it to affect Chloe. Good, kind, sweet Chloe, who never deserved anything that happened to her, all because of Red.
Red stood face to face with the new version of Chloe. Her light blue curls had been replaced with straighter, midnight blue hair. Her usual bright clothing gone, with darker, more VK-esque apparel in its place. Even worse, Chloe's eyes that would once be filled with kindness and love, especially when looking at Red, were now overtaken by hatred and contempt.
Behind her stood Max, his face filled with glee, as though he were showing off a new toy or pet.
"Don't you like what I've done to her?" He asked.
'No.' She wanted to scream. 'Give me my Bluey back.' She longed to yell, fight, do anything to make this situation better, but all she could do was stand and stare.
"You did this? To my—" she faltered. "To my friend?"
No one could know of their relationship yet, not til they were both ready.
They both turned and ran. Max in the lead, Chloe not far behind.
Red chased them.
She noticed how Max seemed to control Chloe, how every move she made was first checked by Max, as if something in Chloe was yearning for approval. It made Red's stomach churn with anxiety, what exactly had he done to her.
The hedges closed around her, trapping her, cutting her off from her love. She pounded against them, praying they would let her through, but much to her chagrin it did not. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Thinking. She still had one card she hadn't played yet.
Pink came to her rescue, as she had been trying to this entire trip. As she had been doing throughout both their lives. The cookies left by Alice allowed her to grow larger, providing aid in a way Red never expected. Pink quickly caught Red up to the others, stomping on the ground to stop them, causing it to fall in. Red gave a passing shout of thanks as she fell.
The coldness of the crypt cleared Red's head. She had fallen on her back, and a plume of dust flew around her. She sat up slowly with a groan, stretching her arms as she did. She looked around, hoping to gain sight of Chloe and that stupid pocket watch. And Max as well she supposed.
Max was also on his back, groaning. He seemed to have sustained minimal injuries, just a shallow cut above his eyebrow. The pocket watch, she found, was also crushed under a giant piece of fallen rock. She swept her gaze over the cave, not gaining sight of Chloe anywhere.
A low whimper of pain caught her attention. She swivelled her head towards the sound, and her mouth fell open in shock.
No, no, no, no. This couldn't be happening.
She scrambled to her feet, running towards the sound. In front of her lay Chloe, and on top of Chloe lay a large chunk of the ceiling foundation.
Chloe was suspended, laying on one piece of debris while another held her in place from above. Her arm was pinned by a seperate piece of rock. Her eyes were shut tight, a few tears leaking through as she groaned in pain. Lying next to her on the ground was the enchanted bracelet, shattered by a hit from falling debris.
"Chloe," Red whispered in shock. She knelt by the princess, her trembling arm hovering above her face.
Chloe groaned once more.
"Red." She murmured, her face contorting in pain. She attempted to move once, her body twitching before giving up.
"Hold on, don't move princess I'll get you out of there."
Red grabbed hold of the rock, pushing with all her might. The rock slightly budged, and Chloe whimpered once more.
"Max! Max!" Red yelled. "Get over here, help me. Please."
Max stood up, his face contorted in shock. He didn't say a word, instead coming over to help push the rock off of Chloe. Every shove of the rock made Chloe groan in pain.
"Stop please, stop." She begged. "It hurts so much, please." Her voice cracked and tears streamed down her face.
Red backed off, running her hands through her hair in stress. She paused once, thoughtfully.
"Pink," she called out. "Please Pink, we need you."
Pink came bounding in, still ten feet tall. She peered down over the chasm and gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
"Oh my daisies, is that Chloe?"
Red nodded.
"Please Pink, I need you. Can you help save her."
Pink nodded once resolutely. She grabbed the pieces of debris, now tiny in her humongous hand, and threw it to the side. Chloe gasped, finally able to get a deep breath in now that the rock was gone. Her body rolled to the side, and her eyes fluttered shut as the pain overtook her. Pink bent over, slowly, and scooped Chloe up, holding her gently in her arms. She turned to Red and Max.
"Hop on."
They both gripped her legs as she stomped back to the White Rabbit's house to regroup.
Red sat uncomfortably in a plastic chair, her hand gripping Chloe's good one. Maddox had been defeated, and her mother saved. Pink had managed to save the day, carrying Chloe to the Wonderland Palace's Medical facility. The healers had reassured Red that Chloe would make a full recovery. Her arm had been broken from being crushed, and her ribs cracked as well. It was an extremely close situation as there was a slight chance that they may have punctured Chloe's lungs, but she pulled through.
It had been two days and Chloe was yet to wake up. Sofiya, Chloe's main healer, had told Red that this was normal. Chloe's injuries as well as the fact that she had been under an enchantment meant that it would take longer for her to awaken. Sofiya had begged her to take some rest, leave the room for a bit but Red refused. She wanted to spend all her time with her princess, she had already given too much of it away not paying attention to her.
The other Wonderland crew had dropped by, leaving various cards and presents at Chloe's bedside table. Max especially had felt extra guilty, writing an apology letter to Chloe as well. Red would make sure he apologised to her in person when she woke up.
She wasn't entirely sure on how she felt about Max, following everything. She was sympathetic and remorseful to his plight, understanding why he did what he did. But still, his actions had caused her to almost lose her Bluey, the love of her life. She didn't entirely forgive him, and neither had he entirely forgiven her, but with time she was sure that it would be fine.
Chloe's hand twitched slightly in hers.
"Red," she muttered. She was not fully awake nor aware yet.
Red leaned in closer.
"I'm here Princess. I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever again."