Chapter Text
Red could feel the fogginess of sleep leave her body as she awoke in her plush bed. Slowly creaking her eyes open as the morning light from her bedroom window crept through the red sheer curtains. Red couldn’t help but let a small smile fall onto her face; they had done it, she and Chloe saved their moms. Red’s smile grew bigger as she thought of Chloe, her soft brown eyes, and gentle smile. Red found herself surprised that she was excited to see Chloe again today. Growing up, Red wasn’t given many opportunities to make friends or care about anything other than surviving, so to grow as attached to Chloe as quickly as she did was a little jarring.
Orientation had gone well after they had returned from the past; the two girls were elated that their mission was successful. Cinderella was safe, and the tyrannical queen of hearts was no more. Red was pulled from her thoughts as the sound of people rushing into her room filled her head. Some handmaids had rushed into her room and were rushing around her, pulling clothing and accessories out of nowhere. Red was ushered out of her bed as the handmaids worked around her. “Good morning”, Bridgette said in a sing-songy voice as she waltzed into Red’s room. “First day of school, darling.” She walked closer to Red, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. Red had to fight back a flinch, her mind still not used to the idea that her mother won’t hurt her. “Oh, I am just so excited for you.”
Red felt her lips quirk upward at the affirmation; she always wanted her mother to be happy for her; now she finally has it. “Hey Sister,” a chirpy voice floated from behind the two. Red felt a chill fall down her spine as she saw a young girl dressed in all pink prance into her room. “First day of school together!” She exclaimed, “I just can’t wait.” All the color left Red’s face as she took in the sight before her. Sister. Her sister. Her baby sister. Her long-dead baby sister. Red felt like she was going to be sick. She couldn’t help but stare. Pink was beautiful, and she looked so happy, so alive. Red could feel the tears building up in her eyes.
“Darling?” Her mother spoke, “You look pale. Are you ok?” The words broke Red from her spell; she softly shook her head and put on the best forced smile she could.
“Yeah, Mom,” Red’s hands met each other at her front, “just first-day nerves.” Her fingers wound together as her nails picked at her cuticles to fight her nerves.
Pink skipped off to the side of Red’s room and plucked something from the top of her dresser. “Well, fret not, sister, your favorite bow is right here!”
The whole drive to Auradon, Red couldn’t think. Every thought she had became a jumbled mess, and no train of thought made it to the end of the track. Pink sat behind her, commenting on all the greenery. Apparently, in this timeline, Pink had been unable to join Red and Bridgette at Orientation, so this was her first time traveling to Auradon Prep. Their mom sat behind the driver's seat, insisting that they make it a family trip, not wanting anyone else to distract from the last time she would see her daughters for the next few weeks.
Red was letting the conversation happen around her, Pink bouncing from one side of the car to the other, insisting that she was to get the best view from both sides. Bridgette would occasionally let out a small laugh at her youngest’s hyperactivity, while Red was spiraling in the passenger seat. None of this felt real. Her mom was good now, and her sister was alive. Chloe and her knew that going back in time would change some things, but Red would have never thought that it would bring her sister back.
Chloe, there her mind goes again, landing back on the blue-haired girl. Red sighed, drawing the attention of her mother. “Where is your head, darling? You’ve barely talked for the whole trip.” Red could feel her mom lift her eyes from the road ahead of them to catch a glance at her.
“There has just been a lot of change lately,” Red responded, trying to keep her statement as general as possible. She couldn't help the bounce in her leg as she spoke.
“It’s all part of growing up, my dear. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” Red looked over at her mom, noticing a small smirk growing. “Plus, I’m sure you’re excited to see Chloe again.” Red felt her face flush.
“I mean, yeah,” Red trailed off.
Pink let out a groan. “Oh my clocks, if I have to hear about your hopeless crush on Chloe one more time, I will go mad.” She huffed as she dramatically fell back into her seat.
Red whipped around to look back at her. “I do not have a crush on Chloe!” Her voice rose at the end.
“Oh please, c’mon Red, we knew you liked Chloe before we knew you liked girls.” Pink crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at Red. So, she and Chloe knew each other before orientation in this timeline, Red noted. It would make sense, considering how close her mom and Ella were. Does that mean that Red and Chloe have known each other their whole lives?
“I-” Red cut herself off. “Shut up.” She said wisely before turning back around and facing the front of the car. A part of her heart hurt at how natural it was to fall back into a rhythm with Pink. She thought she had gotten over her sister's death, but having her back is bringing all of those buried emotions right back up.
The car fell back into a comfortable rhythm for the remainder of the drive. Red let her head fall to the side as her eyes locked onto the passing scenery. Her mind fell back onto Pink. Clocks, she missed her sister, but so much time has passed since she has seen her, and this version of Pink might not be anything like the Pink she lost. Her Pink was so bright and cheerful despite the cruelty of the realm they lived in. She gave Red so much hope for a better future for Wonderland, for them. That hope died with her, but she’s back, and that Wonderland Red dreamed of is real.
The car slowed to a stop in front of Auradon Prep. Red’s head snapped up as she recognized the insignia of the school plastered on the front of its archways. Pink jumped up from behind her and looped her arms around Red’s seat to hug her from behind. “Ahh”, she squealed lightly, “I can’t wait to spend so much time with you.” Red brought her arm up to hold Pink’s arms around her tighter.
“Me too,” Red said softly.
The two girls worked on getting their bags out of the car and loaded onto one of the trollies to take to their respective dorm rooms. Bridgette made sure that they didn’t forget anything behind in the process. “Oh my girls,” she started, both Red and Pink standing next to each other in front of their bags, “I’m so excited for you both, but my heart will hurt with you both gone.” The queen walked up to both of them with her arms out. Red reflexively stiffened as their mom’s arms looped around both of them. “It felt like it was just yesterday when you were both playing in the royal garden.”
The royal garden- Red’s head started to hurt as her mother mentioned it. She could almost feel the fragments of her mind yank the memory from the thread of time. Broken pictures of a young Pink floated in her mind: the high-pitched giggles and two little girls running around without a care in the world. Two different memories start clashing together in Red’s mind. One where they are quietly sneaking around, trying not to get caught in the middle of the night, and the other where Pink loudly chases after Red on a bright sunny day. Memories from both timelines colliding in a horrid way, giving Red whiplash at the stark differences between the two scenes. The only similarity being how happy Red was to have Pink around.
The pounding in her head continues as the new timeline’s memory starts to plant itself in Red’s head. “Red?” A soft voice speaks up from beside her. Red’s eyes scrunched up in pain momentarily before letting up and facing the direction of the voice. Pink looks up at her, concerned. “Are you ok?” Her hand reaches out the rest on the upper part of Red’s arm.
Red’s body relaxes at the touch. “Yeah, just nervous for school and the long day of traveling.” She smiles, trying to reassure Pink. “How about we split off and unpack and meet later for lunch?”
Pink nods, “Ok, that works.” She says before turning to face their mom, who has shallow tears in her eyes. “Oh, mom.” Pink goes in for one last hug.
Bridgette quickly laces her arms back around her youngest before looking over Pink’s shoulder at Red, smiling. “My girls are all grown up.”
Red sighs before stepping forward. “We will see you in a couple of weeks for break, Mom.”
“Weeks?!” The queen shrills, “What will I do without my babies for that long?” She starts weeping into Pink’s hair.
Red awkwardly walks up next to her mom and pats her on the back. “There, there.”
A few brief moments pass before the queen pulls away from her youngest. “I guess I’ll be making my leave now. I love you both, and will miss you dearly.”
“Love you too, Mom.” Both girls respond as they watch their mom get back in the car and drive away, Pink enthusiastically waving her bye while Red stands beside her.
“Ok, unpack, then lunch?” Red looks over at Pink, who nods before skipping away to gather her luggage.
Red stood there for a few more minutes, the first time she'd been alone since she woke up this morning. The effects of the shifting timeline were draining her energy. Red made her way over to her dorm room, toiling her bags behind her. The halls of Auradon Prep have definitely different features than Merlin Academy, but the structure of the walls is the same. A part of her soul could still hear the soft voices of the students that came before. The strange yet familiar feeling caused a soft ache in the back of her skull.
Red’s thoughts halted as the dark oak of her dorm room door stood before her. Her eyes trailed the grain of the wood for a little while before she mustered the courage to reach for the door handle. The brass was smooth under her slightly clammy palm; the aged door creaked as she pushed it open, and the sight of a golden light filled Red’s eyes. The rays of sun danced around the dorm; two twin beds rested on either side of the room, one empty, waiting for its guest to arrive, the other with items spewed across it. Red’s eyes raced across the scene, resting on a head of blue hair hurrying around unzipped bags. “Chloe,” she softly sighed out.
Chloe’s head snapped up at the sound of her name, and a bright smile found its way onto her face. “Red!” The sound of hurried feet filled the space as Chloe ran up to Red, her arms finding their place around her shoulders. Red relaxed into the hold, wrapping her own arms around Chloe's waist. “It's so good to see you. How was your trip?” The question floated between the two as Chloe faced Red.
The warmth of the hug and the familiarity of Chloe’s presence unleashed a torrent of thoughts in Red’s head. The question being asked of her was running right over her head, as the tears she’d been holding in since this morning started to rush out. Shock filled Chloe’s head at Red’s reaction, and before she could ask further questions, Red tucked her face into Chloe's shoulder. “Oh, Red.” Her hands rested on the back of her head and back, pulling her in closer. “I’m here.” Chloe’s voice softly flowed.
“She's,” Red sobbed, “she's alive.” Her shoulders shook as she spoke.
Chloe’s eyebrows quirked in confusion. “Who? Your mom?” She asked as her fingers started playing with Red’s hair.
“My sister.”