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Chapter Text

Victor ran a hand through his hair as he and Red slipped through the streets of Wonderland’s Capitol. They were both out past curfew, and would seriously be screwed if they were discovered.

“I’m the Rebel, you’re the Menace, we’re a two show riot. Yeah,” Red sang, looking at him from behind her glitter covered red rose detailed mask.

“Yeah. Slipping through the shadows like we’re ultraviolet. Yeah, yeah.” Victor sang, slipping past her and down the streets with his bat gripped tight. 

“Hearts on the walls, but no love on these streets. Appetite for destruction, a girl’s gotta eat, yeah.” Red sang, strutting forward into the courtyard and cutting off the rose heads from their stems.

“Devil on my shoulder and it won’t be quiet.” Victor hissed, staring up at the reigning portraits of The Queen Of Hearts and the Vampire Eldress that hung from each side of the castle.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m on the path of destruction.” Red sang softly, pulling her bag off and reaching inside. Victor mimicked her, gripping one of the black paint filled balloons. 

“This is gonna be fun.” Victor sang with a mischievous grin.

“Set it off! Go berserk!” Red sang, both her and Victor launching the paint filled balloons at their guardians portraits.

“Tonight we light it up like fireworks! Burn it down, til’ all they’re seein’ now-” Victor sang, chucking every paint filled balloon at his Aunt’s portrait and smiling in satisfaction as the black paint ruined the banner.

“Is Red,” 

“Black,”

“Red,”

“Black,”

“Red.”

Every time they said their color codenames, they punctuated the words with aimed throws at their legal guardian’s portraits.

“Soldiers at the ready!” The lead guard, Three of Hearts announced, walking into the courtyard with the Soldier Cards and Vampire Army behind him.

“Sir, yes, sir!” The guards all cried as Victor and Red ducked behind the bushes.

“The Queens aren’t very friendly!” Three of Hearts reminded his guards, marching back and forth in front of his battalion.

“That’s for sure!” The guards all agreed.

“It’s criminal how they follow the crown.” Red scoffed quietly to him, chucking a paint balloon at Three of Hearts.

“Fists in the air, boots on the ground. I hear the sound, and it’s getting loud.” Victor agreed, glowering at the guards.

“It’s screaming red.”

“Black.”

“Red.”

“I’m breaking in, call the guards, raise the alarm.” Victor sang with a cheshire grin, standing up and darting past the guards as they all began to chase him. The distraction.

“Princess of Heart’s, lit after dark.” Red sang as she destroyed a statue with Victor’s bat.

“Off with their heads. Leave ‘em for dead.” Victor sang softly, kicking over a vase.

“Seeing red,”

“Black,”

“Red. I’m on the path of destruction,” Red sang as the guards chased after her and Victor.

“They gon’ think we’re on one,” Victor sang through his malicious laughter.

“Set it off! Go berserk!” The Princess of Hearts sang as her and Victor climbed the stairs of one of the towers, the guards hot on their trail.

“Tonight we light it up like fireworks! Tear it down, and paint this town,” Victor sang back.

“Red,”

“Black,”

“Red,”

“Black,”

“We don't want our lives ruled by some queen! Look into our eyes, see the fire within! Burn it down, til all they’re seeing now is,” They both sang in union as they reached the top of the tower.

“Red,”

“Black,”

“Red,”

“Black,”

“Red.”

The guards chased them across the pathway that connected the two towers. But Red and Victor jumped over the edge onto a slightly lower platform before they could be caught. Red’s mask fell off, and Victor hurriedly helped her put it back on, before they ran away to the tunnels and hid.

They heard the guards marching around, looking for them. They peeked out of a tunnel near the courtyard to watch the guards.

“Up all night!” Three of hearts screamed angrily.

“Right, left, right!” His soldiers said, marching in that order.

“Never question orders!” He snapped angrily, his long blonde hair whipping in the wind.

“Or we’ll pay the price!” The guards said firmly in understanding.

“Protect the Queen’s Borders!” Three of Hearts said firmly, saluting at the Queen of Hearts ruined portrait.

“Remember what she said!” The soldiers yelled back.

“It’s either off with their heads, or it’s off with our heads!” The soldiers all said in union, before splitting up to find the two rebels.

“Get the kids. Get the kids. Get the kids, get the kids, wo-oa-oahhh.” They all sang in union as Red and Victor ran away from the soldiers.

“We don’t want our lives ruled by some Queens! Look into our eyes, see the fire within! Burn it down, till all they’re seeing now is,” They sang in union as they ran, eventually getting cornered near a tower.

“Off with their heads, red! Off with their heads, black! Off with their heads, red!” The guards sang, closing in on the tower.

Before the guards could arrive though, a massive metal claw had swooped down from a window in the castle, and carried Victor and Red up into the room it came from. 

The claw dropped them on a circular bed, and both burst into a fit of giggles, taking their masks off. The sibling’s tutor, Maddox, stood in front of them with a disappointed look.

“What were you two thinking?? You could’ve been dragged off to the dungeons!” Maddox scolded as he stood before his two apprentices.

“Just that Mom’s portrait could use a little touch-up.” Red said smoothly.

“Hope she likes it.” Victor added with a grin.

“You two…” He mumbled as he approached. Red grinned happily for once in her life, standing up while Victor remained on the bed.

“If you continue down this path, I won’t be able to save you two every time.” Maddox scolded.

“Maddox Hatter, you can’t save us.” Red said with an apologetic grin.

“We’re lost causes. Prisoners of Wonderland.” Victor agreed, disappointment painted on his features. He loved his and Red’s mother, sure, and he loved Wonderland, but he wanted to leave Wonderland. More than anyone.

“You two are not lost cause!” Maddox snapped firmly, glaring at the siblings before his face softened. “As your tutor, it’s my job to prepare you for your futures. And as your friend, I want you to have one.” He said the last part gently, like he cared. Actually cared.

“What future, Mads? We have the most controlling mom ever. I have to lead her way,” Red snapped.

“And she’ll never let me even set foot outside of Wonderland.” Victor added.

Maddox sighed at his two students, looking over them sympathetically. “I know it hasn’t been easy growing up with a mother that’s so… Particular. But she wasn’t always this way.” Maddox said, hardening at both of the siblings' laughter.

“It’s true!” He protested firmly. “We are all products of our past. And your mother’s was certainly unfortunate.”

“She just wants to control every aspect of our lives! She won’t let Victor do anything, and she just wants to turn me into the next evil queen like her. I don’t wanna be queen.” Red said firmly, glaring slightly at their tutor, spitting the word ‘queen’ like a slur. It sounded bitter.

“We just wanna be in charge of our own lives.” Victor agreed quietly. He was the less outspoken of the two.

“But what we want doesn’t matter to her.” Red said bitterly.

“Oh Red, Victor…” Maddox said mournfully, watching as Red’s eyes glassed over, and Victor finally sat still and kept quiet (rare for him).

“I wasn’t gonna show you this until you got older, but…” Maddox mumbled after a moment, smiling as he stood up and grabbed his hat. He walked over to his work table, Victor and Red following suit. There was a small stand covered by a magenta silk cloth.

“I finally finished it. My time machine.” Maddox said with a grin, pulling the cloth off to reveal a golden pocketwatch on the pedestal. Victor looked immensely interested, while Red looked very doubtful.

“It takes you to the exact moment in time that can get you what your heart wants most. If you two really want a different life, I want you to have that choice. With that said, there are some serious consequences to altering the fabric of time. You should know it could change everything.” Maddox warned as Victor reached for the pocketwatch, snagging it and staring at it curiously.

“I can live with that!” Victor chirped, but Maddox took the pocketwatch back. 

“You could lose your mother entirely.” He snapped, before shaking his head and putting the pocketwatch in his coat pocket.

“It’s too dangerous… Maybe when you’re older and more mature. I care about you two too much.” Maddox said gently. Red smiled softly, approaching their tutor and softly hugging him. Victor grinned discreetly, knowing exactly what his sister was doing.

“Thanks Mads.” She said softly, Maddox letting a soft ‘oh’ slip. 

“At least someone still does.” Victor agreed, hugging Maddox as well so Red could tuck the pocketwatch more hiddenly into her pocket.

“SEARCH THE CASTLE!” They heard Three of Hearts yell loudly through the corridor.

“You best get out of here, you two. The queen will cut my head if she finds out I’m harboring two fugitives.” Maddox said firmly.

“Make us!” Victor said playfully, bouncing on the balls of his feet with his usual messy grin.

“As you wish, Prince.” Maddox said with a grin, copying Victor’s playful nature. WIth that, he pressed a button on his suit jacket sleeve that caused two separate tubes to suck up Victor and Red up. When the siblings fell from the tube, they landed on their beds.

Red giggled, pulling the pocketwatch from her pocket. She went to press the button, pausing briefly as Victor spoke up.

“Maybe we shouldn’t. Maddox said we could lose mom entirely. And although she’s a bitch, I still love her.” Victor said softly, eyeing the pocketwatch curiously. Red mulled over the thought, before sighing and putting the pocketwatch on her nightstand.

“I guess you’re right.” She agreed. Red curled up under her blankets, mumbling a goodnight to Victor. Victor mumbled back a goodnight, turning the light off and sliding his shirt off. He grabbed a hoodie, and slid his jeans off as well, before climbing underneath his black duvet, and slipping into familiar dreams.

As soon as he nodded off, crystal blue eyes filled his eyes. A needy gasp slipped through his lips as he felt the person’s fingers running through his hair. His dreams had always been different. He was able to feel these dreams with the blonde girl.

He wished this moment was real. Wished he was there with her in the moment, wished her hands were actually running through his hair, wished he could actually touch her. Wished he could kiss, adore, and love this blue-eyed blondie of his dreams.

He practically purred when her eyes glowed a delightful gold, and her hands heated up, sending tingles down his spine. Ah, yes. The only problem.

If this girl was even real, which was entirely unlikely, she was a Daywalker. He was a Vampire. Daywalkers were the very reason Vampires had been chased into Wonderland. The reason he lived like this.

Back in the 1800’s, the Daywalkers had taken the side of the humans during the Great Moon War, when the humans had taken the Moonstone and Darkstone. The Daywalkers and Vampires who had once been friends, had become enemies when the Daywalkers had sided with the humans. 

After that, in the late 1860’s, the Night and Light War had happened between villains and Werewolves and Zombies and Vampires, and the humans and heroes. The heroes had killed off half of the villains and chased off the Werewolves and Zombies to Sherwood Forest, and the Vampires had sought sanctuary in Wonderland.

In 1990, Merlin Academy had been formed for all of the species, but it had shut down during the Great War in the early 2000’s. 

Victor forgot that boring history when the girl leaned down and brushed her nose against his, her eyes fluttering shut. Victor would have leaned forward and kissed her if he was not frozen. But his life hated him, so he couldn't.

“I wish you were real.” She whispered, her voice silky and soft, the few words playing on loop in his head. He wanted to listen to her voice forever. 

He mentally sighed in relief when the girl finally kissed him, his face reddening at the delightful feeling of her mouth pressed against his own. It ended far too quickly, and his brain was screaming more.

Sadly, he was still frozen.

He was roused from his sleep when a guard banged on the door to his and Red’s room, screaming through the wood.

“THE QUEEN SUMMONS THEE FOR COURT!!!” He screamed before storming down the hall. 

Great, this was likely for the mess him and Red had made last night. WIth a groan, he sat up in bed and glared at the door. He heard Red do the exact same, except she flipped the door off.

Today would no doubtedly suck ass.

Victor grumpily climbed out from underneath his sheets, grabbing his jeans and slipping them on as Red climbed out of her own bed and walked to the bathroom. Victor rubbed a hand over his face, and walked to his closet on his side of the room, grabbing a white tank top, a cropped black and red tie dye sweater, and fingerless leather gloves with red rhinestones.

By the time he was dressed, Red had clambered out of the bathroom with brushed hair and her clothes on as well. He gladly slipped into the bathroom, brushing his hair before slicking it back. He put his crescent earrings, nipple piercings, and viper piercings in.

When he walked out of the bathroom, both him and Red slipped down the hall to the courtyard, both still waking up. When they reached the courtyard, the announcer boomed in that deep voice.

“THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF HEARTS!!!” The announcer yelled, and everyone nodded politely at Victor and Red.

“I see you couldn’t be bothered to dress for court.” The Queen of Hearts said judgementally, looking over her children with an annoyed face.

“I’m sorry that us expressing ourselves offends you.” Red said firmly, glaring at the queen.

The Queen of Hearts scoffed, before continuing her pacing. “I’m sorry to rouse you both from bed before noon, but while you were asleep, someone vandalized my portrait.” She explained to her children, shooting a prompt glare at Three of Hearts.

“Since he failed to protect my portrait, he needs to be punished. Should we poke thorns in his eyes? Make him kneel on glass and salt? Or my personal favorite, off. With. His. Head.” She spat, her gaze fixing on Red.

“Since you’ll be Queen one day, I’ll let you decide.” The Queen of Hearts said sweetly, gesturing to the guard. Red swallowed thickly, stepping away from her brother’s side to stand in front of Three of Hearts.

“For his crime… Off… With… His…. HAT!” Red said, snatching the guard’s hat and putting it on. She elegantly bowed. The Queen of Heart’s rolled her eyes.

“You’re such a disappointment. Try again, and get it right this time or I’ll SHOW YOU PUNIHMENT!!!” The Queen of Hearts snapped. Red swallowed thickly, fear evident on her face. Victor stared at his sister in concern.

“Off with his…” Red began shakily speaking, but Maddox ran into the courtyard. Thank Gods!

“Your Majesty. Please accept my deepest apologies for interrupting court, but mail has arrived.” Maddox said politely, bowing and pulling a weathered letter from his coat pocket. The letter flew to The Queen of Hearts, opening automatically.

“Dear Queen of Hearts,

As the new Principal of Auradon Prep, I have the honor to invite your children, Princess Red and Prince Victor to attend our school. If you accept, this letter shall serve as your key.”

The letter spoke, the voice of Uma filling the courtyard.

“... From Pirate to Principal… Another Villain’s gone soft…” The Queen of Heart’s whispered. 

Meanwhile, Maddox had slipped over to Red and Victor.

“Looks like you two might have a future after all. Might get to see Auradon.” He said softly, smiling at his students.

“Yeah right. Mom can’t control us out there, she’ll never let us leave.” Victor said in disappointment.

“We accept!” The Queen of Hearts said with a massive grin. This grin was genuinely happy, for once in her life.

“What?! You’re just going to let us leave!?” Red yelped in shock. The Queen of Hearts nodded softly, watching her both children with actual love.

Her children both began squealing excitedly as the Queen turned around and sat back in her throne, the guards carrying her throne back into the palace.

Maybe this year will be okay.

Maybe, Victor would finally find out what love felt like.

Chapter Text

Nova shot a fire blast straight at Chloe’s sword, watching as the blue haired girl blocked with ease. She grunted in frustration, and ran to the side, trying to get Chloe cornered.

Chloe aimed a prompt attack at her side, causing Nova to yelp as the metal smacked her ribs. She flipped away, and tried to sweep Chloe’s feet. She succeeded, and ran away from her opposer.

The blue haired girl chased after her quickly, but Nova ducked behind a pillar, aiming a fire blast at her sword again. Chloe yelped, and dropped her sword, glaring at the blonde. Nova smirked happily. She tried to stand up, but her vision went black.

When her vision refocused, the boy was in front of her. His dark red hair was messy, and his smile was dull. He was stuffing items into a bag. Clothes. Was he going somewhere?

She stepped closer, brushing his arm with her hand. Recently, she’d been able to move around in these visions and dreams. She used this new privilege frequently.

“Where are you going?” She asked softly. The boy’s head whipped to her like a lost puppy, and he instantly grinned brighter.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” She whispered back, a soft smile gracing her features as he packed. “What are you packing for?”

“I’m going somewhere. Auradon. My mom’s actually letting me go.” He explained happily. She watched as he continued packing, not pressing for further details. If she was fully conscious in her mind, she would’ve demanded to know where. Where she could find him, finally kiss him properly. But her brain was never her own in these times.

No further words were shared, as she slipped from the vision, his handsome smile in her mind as she was slammed back into reality. Chloe was in front of her, shaking her shoulders.

Nova shook her head, meeting Chloe’s eyes as the girl calmed down. “Another vision?”

“Yeah.” Nova mumbled, clinging to the strands of their conversation. Words were shared in these visions, but she could never remember any after they were over. Only his eyes, and his features. Her brain was nice enough to let her keep that.

Nova sighed as she stood, clinging to Chloe. She realized that her dad was a few feet away, watching them with a soft concerned look. Chloe must’ve gotten him while she had her vision.

“You okay, kiddo?” He asked, a crease in his brows.

“Yeah. Just another vision. Please don’t tell dad.” She pleaded softly. The Charming’s were well aware of her visions, and were well aware of how her dad, Commander Bright, reacted each time.

The aged king just calmly nodded, slipping back into his easy-going demeanor. “You girls are always so tense and serious. We signed you up for swords and shields cause it was supposed to be fun, Chlo.” King Charming teased his daughter playfully. Chloe smiled, sheathing her sword.

“When I’m out there, I represent Cinderellasburg. I need to be the best.” Chloe said with a determined smile. It was then that Queen Cinderella walked across the garden in her long blue poofy dress and her crown.

“Chloe, Nova.” She greeted them happily, grinning at the girls. “I have some gifts for you before we set off to Auradon.” The Queen explained, gesturing for the butlers to approach with two large boxes. One was blue, and the other was a cream white with red ribbon. It was clear which was for who.

“Chloe, we’re so proud of you for getting straight A’s, volunteering for the Auradon Historical society, and for just being a good person.” Cinderella explained as she lifted the lid to the blue box. Inside was a pair of glass shoes, just like Cinderella’s, but only more suited for Chloe’s constant activity.

“And Nova, for being such a good student, and for your strong will and dedication.” Cinderella added, lifting the cream colored boxes’ lid to reveal a golden retractable bo staff. Both girl’s eyes widened as they surged forward for their gifts.

Chloe eagerly put the shoes on while Nova spun her new staff clumsily. It was perfect.

The girls grinned at each other, hugging Cinderella excitedly. The Queen grinned, before kissing her husd=band goodbye and ushering the girls towards the carriage. The girls followed after her eagerly, climbing in.

Nova shot one look at Cinderella and Charming’s castle, before climbing into the carriage with thoughts of red haired boys with charming smiles.

Chapter Text

Victor sat in the backseat of the bright red travel car his mother owned, rubbing his thumb over the cool leather of his sketchbook. Red was next to him, staring out the window as they drove. The car screeched up to Auradon Prep, and all the guards in blue and yellow uniforms looked terrified as they searched the car with metal detectors.

Victor grunted in annoyance as the guard searched his sketchbook. He snatched it from the guards grip, tucking it protectively under his arm as the guards examined the bags in the back.

“I’m just a girl… Arms open wide… Looking for kindness somewhere in your eyes… I’m looking for love, something I may never find…” Red sang quietly.

“What you want doesn’t exist. Love. Ain’t. It.” The Queen of Hearts said firmly from the front seat, her voice measured and careful.

“You say love ain’t it…It makes us weak… But how are we supposed to know if we ain’t felt it yet?” Victor sang firmly, staring out the window at the castle looming up ahead.

“You say, "Love ain't it"... And I wish I could compete with all the grief that you've experienced…” Red sang quietly, glaring at their mother.

“Love ain’t it. And nothing's as sweet as when you beat all your enemies! I say love ain’t it, and fear is more important if we’re gonna rule for centuries!” The Queen of Hearts sang with a wicked smile, before vocalizing as they drove into the school parking area. She snapped comments at the people who walked in front of the car, before parking right in the way of everyone else.

The Queen, Victor, and Red climbed out of the car as The Queen of Hearts snapped at the guards to get her bags. They walked to the front of the line.

“Name?” The lady who was running registration asked. The Queen of Hearts scoffed.

“You know who we are.” She snapped, right as three people walked up beside them in the other registration line. Two had blue hair, and one was a long blonde. Blonde. Victor’s blonde…

“Bridget.” The oldest woman said, looking shocked.

“Ella…” The Queen of Hearts mumbled.

“It’s you…” Both Victor and the blonde whispered at the same time.

“It’s your royal highness now.” The Queen of Hearts said coldly, holding her head high.

“Right. You must be so proud.” The blue haired woman said kindly, looking over the woman with a distant, almost longing look in her eyes.

“So you're from Wonderland?” The younger blue haired girl asked Red, stepping forward. Red put on the fakest smile her brother had ever seen.

“You should come some time. I’ll introduce you to the Jabberwocky!” She said with mock cheer.

“Oooh, fun! What’s an Jabberwocky?” The girl asked eagerly.

“A scary monster who eats annoying girls.” Red snapped, turning on her heel and strutting away with their mother in tow. Victor glanced between his family and the blonde, before walking after his sister and mother.

“So you knew her?” Red asked.

“I saw through her. Cinderella and I were classmates. I spent way too much time in this place, so I had to escape.” Their mother spoke with thinly laced venom in her voice.

“The people here might smile, but they’re two-faced and too fake.” The Queen of Hearts hissed.

“You went to Auradon Prep??” Victor asked, perking up at the implied words his mother spoke.

“Nope, wasn’t even called that yet.” The Queen of Hearts said evenly as they walked into the courtyard where the orientation would be taking place.

Victor stayed behind just long enough to watch the blonde from his dreams, and her two blue-haired friends.

“Wow, that girl was super rude. What’s her problem? What’s her deal?” The younger blue haired girl asked. The older blue-haired woman, presumably, her mother, spoke up.

“Some people act mean at first cause they’re too afraid to feel. It’s survival, it’s protection, it’s why roses grow their thorns.” The mother sang as they all walked.

“C’mon, whose side are you on? The only one worse than her is her mom!” The blue haired girl snapped. The blonde beauty looked like she wanted to protest, but kept her mouth shut.

“Look, hon, back in highschool, a mean prank was played. And ever since that fateful day, she was never quite the same. It’s a shame.” The mother spoke softly.

“What happened, is it okay to ask?” The blue haired girl asked.

“We came here to celebrate the future, sweetie, not dwell on the past.” The mother said gently, and Victor slipped back to his mother and sister as they entered the courtyard.

“Step aside! The Queen’s arrived!” The Queen of Hearts announced, brushing past all the people in the courtyard with her children in tow.

“Look at them, so innocent. Can’t believe they let us in. Watch em pay the consequence for being so dang insolent. Can you smell their cowardice? Soak it up, devour it.” The Queen of Hearts sang, turning around to see her daughter holding a pink macaroon, and her son holding a mini cupcake. She took the treats from them.

“Treats are for the weak! Let me show what real power is!” She snapped, snagging Red away from Victor’s side.

“Quick, Red, you gotta follow along! One day, you’ll be on the throne! Automatic, just like I planned it.” The Queen of Hearts sang to her daughter.

“What about what I want?” Red asked angrily.

“They gon’ fall like parachutes! They gon crawl to me on all fours!” The Queen of Hearts sang with a sadistic smile.

“WHat did they ever do to you?” Red demanded angrily.

“Red, what are you arguing for!?” The Queen of Hearts snapped. “I don’t speak politician, I’m a Queen, your submissions what I need, on your knees, kneel to me, royalty, you should listen, or you’ll wind up in a prison, you’ll be living in a dungeon underground!!” The Queen of Hearts sang.

She tugged her children closer, producing her mirror from her pocket and flipping it open. On the glass was an image of Red on the throne, Victor in chains by her side as blood dripped from his mouth, and their mother behind them.

“Look into the mirror, it’s our destiny. Rule a million years, with you two next to me. Swimmin’ in their tears, won’t they taste so sweet? There’s a new dawn in Auradon. I’m gonna take the crown and put it on, take the crown and do what I want, you’ll make me proud when you take that throne!” Their mother sang through her children’s horrified expression. Victor’s hand rose shakily to his mouth, and he touched his teeth.

Was he really a Monster…?

Before Victor was allowed to even process what his mother had sung, she dragged him to one of the seats in the front row and shoved him down. He sat in silence, shaking quietly. He didn’t even notice the blonde and the blue haired people sitting on the other side of the courtyard, only the aisle separating the two families.

A stout woman in a baby blue dress, with her hair done up in a smooth bun clomped up onto the stage in very uncomfortable looking heels, smiling down at everyone as she held a wand. Fairy Godmother.

“Hello, hello, families of Auradon! I’m so pleased to meet you, and to see all your faces! As you know, I am stepping back from my position as principal of Auradon Prep, but please welcome your new principal!” Fairy Godmother said excitedly, before stepping off to the side. The doors were thrown open, and various pirates flipped down the aisle as they neared the stage.

A woman with long braided hair in a seagreen color, with a brown, rustic pirate hat stepped onto the stage. Victor was hardly paying attention as the pirate and her crew sang a song about not knowing her name or something.

“Hello, all VK’s and HK’s! It’s delightfully evil to be your new principal! Try not to get on my bad side, or you’ll walk the plank.” The woman, Uma, told all who were in attendance.

“She’s joking.” Fairy Godmother chimed in with a nervous smile.

“What I am not joking about, however, is bridging gaps. And with that, I’d like to welcome Princess Red of Wonderland, and her Brother, Prince Victor.” Uma said kindly, looking at the siblings with firm, yet caring gazes. Much like Maddox’s.

Both the siblings were pulled from their staring competition with Uma at the sound of their mother shuffling her card deck.

“Do you mind?” Uma asked the Queen of Hearts with an overly sweet tone.

“I do, actually.” The Queen of Hearts said boredly, before standing up.

“Mom, what are you doing???” Red hissed, glaring at their mother.

“Playing my favorite game, sweetheart.” The Queen said, before walking off to the side with her cards, doing multiple tricks with them. “Waaaarrrrrr…” She sang, before cackling evilly. She tossed all the cards up into the air, and down came various soldier cards.

Fairy Godmother shot her wand out to stop the tyrant, but the Queen of Hearts simply shot a card at her wand, effectively breaking it.

“No.” She said coldly, dead set on staging this coup.

To everyone who was trying to escape, she launched cards at every entrance, making it so no one could escape.

Finally, she lifted her skirt and walked onto the stage. “Finally.” She said wistfully, her two children rushing after her.

“MOM!” They both snapped in anger.

“Hush up, both of you. We won.” She said with a wicked gleam in her eye. Victor felt a tear slide down his cheek, realizing he had truly lost his mother to the wickedness of power.

“Bridget, this isn’t right!” The older woman, Cinderella, yelled angrily, standing protectively in front of her children. She tried to storm up to the Queen of Hearts, but the guards stopped her.

“Let her pass.” The Queen said coldly, glaring at the blue woman as she walked forward.

“Look, I know what happened was mean, but that was ages ago! You need to move on, for your children!” Cinderella said firmly, standing her ground.

“Pop quiz, Red. This woman has just disrespected the crown. What do we do to offenders?” The Queen asked expectantly, glaring at Red. His sister stood frozen, unable to speak.

“I…” She stammered weakly. “Look, is it so hard to just bow? Please.” Red begged Cinderella quietly.

“If it stands against everything I believe in, then yes. I will never bow to a tyrant.” Cinderella said firmly, glaring at The Queen of Hearts.

“Red. Who are you going to choose? Some strangers? Or your mother?” The Queen of Hearts asked in a mock, heartbroken tone. Red looked confused on what she should choose, and Victor couldn’t blame her.

“She can’t do it, Bridget. Even your own daughter thinks it’s wrong.” Cinderella said firmly, glaring at the Queen of Hearts.

“Treason. She’s guilty of treason!” Red cried out, not able to take it.

“Finally. You’ve made me proud. Guards! Off with her head!” The Queen screamed, her voice shrill with wicked delight. Soldier cards surged forward, grabbing Cinderella and dragging her away. The blue haired girl rushed forward.

“NO, MOM!!!” She cried as Cinderella was dragged away. The blonde girl pulled a small stick from her pocket, and it turned into a bo staff within seconds. She ran forward to attack the Queen of Hearts, and before Victor knew it, he’d met her halfway, trying to hold her back.

Red surged forward with the pocket watch, thinking Victor was attacking Nova and trying to help her brother. Chloe launched forward, trying to tackle Red. And then, everything just froze…

Time seemed to spin, warping around the four of them. And on the other side… The courtyard. Except, only they were in it, along with some random girl on a bench. Nova stumbled, falling to the ground, and Victor caught her with an arm around her waist, lowering her to the ground.

“Where are we…?” Red asked, stunned.

Chloe looked around, her blue hair whipping in the chilly wind. By the entrance to the school she saw a sign.

Merlin Academy, it read.

“Guys… I think we went back in time…” Chloe whispered quietly.