"There are many crimes that most VK during their childhood, mostly stealing and scaring people for amusement. What I'd done was take my father's life after he told me the truth that he realized me for him to take over Auradon for himself. When I squashed him it was because there were too many monsters roaming in the kingdom, and I realized that I was one. Then there was a second time I did but because he needed to rest after spending his time as a shadow, and I felt sorry for how much anger there was in him. All that Oogie wanted was to be the center of attention and for everyone to know his name, but it ended with him becoming everyone's worst nightmare. Then there's the other father that I've had to accept, he's the reason why I wear a mask and wear my suit with pride. Maybe there'll be a day when we can spend time with one another, and possibly get into trouble. If there's a future to go back to if Gamma and the others figure out what this grand prank is."


Night Time

Traveling off on what looked like an abandoned road was Gamma accompanied by Chloe and Carmine who kept together watching the trees if they were being watched by any pirates that Ulliana might left behind to keep their tracks covered. The feline decided to take up to the trees where he'd be able to get better advantage of the surroundings while Chloe kept close to Gamma since he was a walking arsenal.

"How is it you know about time travel? I thought there was a rumor that you'd erased your memories to make sure that no one tried to exploit you."

Chloe started a topic about how it had been several years since the cyborg had done anything that would attract the attention of the public. Gamma has remained by Uma's side since nobody wanted to start trouble with the daughter of Ursula. Continuing their walk and staying vigilant, he decided to inform her about his experience with time travel.

"That rumor is true. But Trick and the others had to remind me what I did to save his life after wearing a device that would neutralize Mal's magic, that Gamma was going after her because she would be Auradon's doom. There are numerous ways of time travel that are complex and hard to explain. The best thing to do is not overthink it."

Offering advice to Chloe has left the princess in a conundrum of not overthinking the means since she'd heard the stories from Chad about his time at Auradon about Trickster and the VK on the unusual things that went on at school. Moving ahead and taking the lead, Carmine jumps down from the tree to walk by Chloe's side since she might need company.

"How are you feeling about this? It's kind of my first time being on an adventure."

He asked about that despite getting dragged into this position and meeting her mother at a young age to that her new principal's aunt who would be responsible for turning Red's mom into a heartless villain. While it was a lot to handle, it didn't make her forget what was on the line and how she wanted to save her parents back in the future.

"Not exactly what I thought since I've decided to take courses about horseback riding and junior adventuring. I'm sure you've seen a fair share of unusual things in Wonderland."

Chloe responded that this was unlike any adventure she'd expect to go on thinking about what journeys he'd have in his home kingdom. Carmine looked down at the statement before vanishing out of sight which caught Chloe off as she looked around to see if she'd see him popping up from out of nowhere.

"When a cat travels a path, he needs to make sure it'll last. I can appear and reappear with no help involved, the only claim I have is that I've never been mauled."

He gave her a rhyme that took Chloe a moment to think about for a few minutes to try and determine what that meant. How the cat sounds and describes avoiding being harmed is that he isn't adventurous like Red is to that of being dangerous when it comes to fighting. Coming up to a nearby tree, she looked to her left to see a pair of eyes staring at her it was Carmine who was on top of a wooden log and turned himself visible.

"You're not the fighting type. Aren't you?"

She asked Carmine that despite his mysterious look and animal traits that made him dangerous, the boy seemed too friendly to get into trouble. Carmine lowered his head at the response since it was true that he wasn't like Red or Trickster since they didn't mind getting into trouble.

"My people aren't the type to fight and use our claws. Were considered mischief makers and guides for travelers across the forest, my mom was considered the best and tried to help me learn about the land. Never got around it sadly."

Carmine explained he his species weren't like the Bandersnatch and Jubjub bird that Chloe saw back in Auradon who didn't mind showing off their claws and fangs. The Cheshire cats considered watching things from the sideline and seeing things play out, but that didn't mean he couldn't get into trouble like Red so he could share the same things that she enjoyed doing. Which was making a life for herself, he was just cautious about how his family side would affect her.

"With this experience, I bet you'll get the hang of it. That is if we're able to figure out what Uliana is planning."

She offered him some confidence that this could help him explore more of Auradon once they return to the present. The feline smiled at the idea of him and Red going across the kingdom causing mischief, the moment was interrupted by Gamma pulling the two from the side and hiding behind one of the trees where they heard arguing from the bushes. Gesturing them to remain quiet, they saw the group of past VK talking amongst themselves about how they were going get back at Bridget and Ella. Uliana silenced them since she was in charge of them and would prove it to everyone back at Merlin Academy.

"I'm fierce, I'm feared. You know I'm the baddest here pull up on my crew, boohoo. You'll be wiping up more than a puddle of tears my competition, call her Urs'. But her curses ain't the worst I got potions, evil spells to turn your life from bad to worse."

She started to sing about her sister who was known for causing trouble across the sea, she was ten times worse when it came to spell-making. Watching the six moving about to their base, the trio remained silent as they noticed how Jafar and Maleficent lurked around to make sure no one was spying on them. Coming up near a lake, Uliana smirked at the sight before gripping her seashell necklace.

"Then there's that desperate girl comin' for me, tryna mess with my world. Well, villainous is how I live she'll regret messing with the wrong sea witch, 'cause I got a lifetime of vengeance, I'm savage to the bone, and anyone who crosses me gon' wish they were never born!"

Uliana called out as the teens watched something emerging from the water. It was a large, deceased angler fish that had been made into a clubhouse for the gang to hang out and hide from the soon-to-be heroes of the land.

"They won't know what's coming when I hit 'em with that Revenge! They gonna start running when I hit 'em with that Revenge! Won't stop 'til I conjure up a painful perfect punishment. I don't get mad, I get even. Gon' find the perfect revenge."

She declared out on getting revenge on Bridget as they leaped from rock to rock into the mouth of the angler fish. Cautious about following them, Carmine was able to find an alternate route that wouldn't let them be noticed by the villains. Going from the backside and not being seen, Gamma made a small hole where they saw inside the angler fish its insides were decorated with the VK's belongings and a cauldron that belonged to the sea witch.

"Gon' find that perfect. Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge, Ah-ya-ah-ya! Gon' find the perfect, Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge! Gon' find that perfect. Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge, Ah-ya-ah-ya! Gon' find that perfect, Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge."

Each of them repeated a revenge plot that would get back their reputation of being feared across the school. Each of the teens had their chairs that represented their style of villainy while Uliana preferred her means of comfort. Which was letting all of her tentacles out and hanging from above the ceiling, so she'd show how frightening they were toward the gang.

"Any suggestions?"

Uliana asked them to see if they had any plans to pay back Bridget in the most gruesome and wicked fashion. Hook had his pirates by his side and they cheered the captain to call out his idea of getting the princess to pay.

"Well, why don't you make her walk the plank. Darling, that's too easy!"

The sea witch shooting Hook's idea made the others laugh at how generic Hook's idea was as the boy showed his cutlass toward them, not hesitant in fighting them. Sighing at how dull they were being, Grimhilde decided to impress them with her plan as she presented Uliana with an idea that was in the form of an apple that had a green pastry on it to represent a skull.

"Poison her with a thousand apples! And what? She'd fall asleep?"

She asked the evil princess if it wasn't evil but not fulfilling since Bridget would be asleep and not in any pain. Scuffing at the response that she was given, Grimhilde's apple was burnt by Maleficent as she did it with her hand glowing with green fire that attracted Hook's pirates like moths to a flame at how beautiful and dangerous it was.

"We could burn her to a crisp. Indeed, let's burn her to a crisp!"

Jafar agrees with the Dark Fey about just burning the Princess of Wonderland into nothing but ash. Continuing to hear the ideas, Uliana was about to respond to the threatening idea. It was interrupted by Oogie who slammed his fist on the table which attracted the attention of everyone since he was embarrassed as well when the masked boy snatched his snake right out of his mouth.

"No, it should be worse, worse, worse than all of these!"

He yelled that all of their plans were weak-hearted and would fit Uliana's sense of revenge which caught her attention. Especially how whenever Oogie got angry, this shadow would grow which quickly snuffed out the lights within the room which made the pirates scared of the Oogie's power.

"Revenge should be vicious in whatever we do. To that poor unfortunate soul should be ten times more cruel!"

Oogie spoke on how Bridget should be punished in the worst way imaginable as his shadow made everything within the angler fish go dark. Gamma and the others couldn't see anything due to the VK's mysterious power; it was ended by Maleficent igniting the room with her flame which blinded everyone as Uliana applauded at the concept and needed to think bigger.

"They won't know what's coming when I hit 'em with that Revenge! They gonna start running when I hit 'em with that Revenge! Won't stop 'til I conjure up a painful perfect punishment. I don't get mad, I get even. Gon' find the perfect revenge."

She stated as the sea witch walked toward her cauldron Uliana used her tentacles to grab several potions from around the room to put in it. Looking at her gang to offer their ingredients, they each placed something that would help with their dilemma.

"Calling all spirits of the Black Lagoon. Show me your recipe fit for her doom, toxically sweet with a side of pure spite. I need the perfect revenge that will bite!"

Uliana called out as the lagoon started to answer her plea as they heard a chill of wicked laughter filling the room. The spirits hurled around the room scaring everyone except for Uliana as she saw them entering the cauldron, it led to them changing into an object as it rose from the cauldron to show the sea witch's answer for her revenge. They changed into a simple cooking book with a skull in front of the cover.

"What's this? A book, that's it? I asked for a painful punishment! But hold up, wait, this might be evil on a plate. So I'ma serve her what she deserves, what she deserves. And that's justice, dressed up like the sweetest dessert. Perfect"

She smirked at the cooking book as if it could change Bridget's positive personality into something cruel and monstrous. Just as Gamma was going to capture the image with his cybernetic eye, the spirits that took the form of the book broke apart and flew right passed the cyborg which affected his systems. Causing him to collapse on the ground, Carmine and Chloe caught him as they had to keep silent if they wanted to avoid getting caught.

"They won't know what's coming when I hit 'em with that Revenge! They gonna start running when I hit 'em with that Revenge! Won't stop 'til I conjure up a painful perfect punishment. I don't get mad, I get even. Gon' find the perfect revenge."

The VK sang as they planned to steal the book from the school and create the treat that would seal Bridget's fate. With that being said, the six started to gather several belongings that could ward off any enchantments that would stand in their way when they took the book.

"Gon' find that perfect, Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge, Ah-ya-ah-ya. Gon' find that perfect, Ah-ya-ah-ya. Perfect revenge!"

Finishing the song and laughing in wickedness at how the cupcake that Bridget used to make Uliana into a flamingo would make her into a monster. Having heard enough and needing to leave, Chloe and Carmine helped Gamma across the water to avoid getting caught. Just as they made it to the edge, Carmine's foot slipped into the water which caught the attention of the eels.

"What, is that?"

She asked as suddenly emerging from the water was the large eels that attempted to eat the cat. Avoiding its large teeth but its large tail wrapping around him like an anaconda, Carmine was unable to accept as Gamma was unable to wake up from the spirits going through him. Having no sword on her, Chloe took one of the sticks from the ground and attempted to jab the sea creature. It did nothing but aggravate it as the eel continued its squeeze on Carmine, she needed something sharper that would free Red's boyfriend. Looking down at her boots and remembered them being made of glass.

"Sorry, Mom. But this is an emergency."

Apologizing for what she would as Chloe removed the boots from her feet and smashed them against the eel's head letting Carmine go, the eel escaped and retreated into the water. Coughing at how tight the aquatic creature had him, he attempted to thank her for saving his tail. What they didn't notice was another eel appearing from the side to drag Gamma into the water.

"No!"

Carmine spoke out as he was able to throw his hood over him which caused both of them to teleport in an instant. Seeing the two disappear in a flash and having the Eel staring at her, Chloe looked at the shards of glass on the ground and was prepared to defend herself. That was until she saw above the Eel was Carmine appearing above the creature but his claws and fangs out as he latched himself onto the Eel. Chloe watched in silence at the feline slashing at the sea creature's back showing how deadly he was before forcing it to go back into the water in fear of the cat.

"Carmine?"

Chloe called out his name to see if he was alright which Carmine responded with his face changed into a beast with red eyes glaring toward her. Remaining still and not moving, Carmine looked at his claws and restrained himself from harming her as he forced himself to change back his eyes went back to normal and his claws went away. Shivering at the sudden change, Carmine noticed the frightened look on Chloe's face at what she'd witnessed.

"I took Gamma back to the academy and put him in Red's room. I can't teleport that far again, not unless I lose control."

He explained where he took her vice principal as Chloe walked over to help Carmine with returning to Merlin Academy. Before doing so, Carmine offered her his shoes so she didn't walk back barefoot as the two started their walk so they could inform the others about what the plan was.


Morning-Merlin Academy

The next day came for everyone much less for Gamma as he was still down for the count after what went passed him back at the Black Lagoon. Looking over him was Trickster as he tried numerous ways to wake up the cyborg, it didn't help as Red was thinking about how her mother ended up the way she was because of one bad cupcake.

"Alright. Here's the plan, later on in the afternoon when everyone is attending class. We take the book before Uliana has the chance to steal it."

She suggested what they'd do when there was an opportunity for them to retrieve the cooking book before the VK had the chance. The only one listening to her was Chloe since the VK in the room continued to try and wake up Gamma since he couldn't be in a room with two princesses preparing to argue about what was right and wrong to do in this predicament.

"After what Carmine did for me, I'd do anything to help out. But what would happen if we got caught? Merlin would take your pocket watch away and put us in detention and would make us miss Castlecoming along jeopardize both our family's futures. Maybe we can tell him the truth about where we came from."

Chloe responded by being thankful for her boyfriend for saving her and Gamma back at the Black Lagoon, she'd help out with anything. The last thing she would be involved in was stealing a cooking book from Merlin's office since the skull on the cover showed it to be ancient. Red attempted to keep calm since it was the morning but thought the idea was ridiculous since it went against everything about time travel.

"While I would say 'Sure! Let's go tell Merlin'. I remember that one, we don't exist yet. Two, we could mess up something that could cause Auradon to not be made. And three most of all, I'm not giving up the watch."

She listed the three reasons why going to tell the headmaster was a bad idea and could destroy the present than what the Red Queen could ever do in the present. The two were at a standstill about what they should do as well as figuring out a solution to their problem, their conversation was stopped by Carmine coming in with a cart with breakfast on it as he noticed Red and Chloe speaking to one another.

"Did I interrupt anything? I was able to sneak a cart away from the staff. Got a few minutes before they notice it."

He informed them about needing to eat quickly before the staff noticed one of their carts was gone. Trickster decided to let the metal sleeping beauty stay asleep, he decided to take control of the moment since he heard about Carmine letting out his inner beast and saving the two and would think the Wonderland couple needed some time alone.

"On that, I agree with. Especially, how everyone needs a moment to be amongst themselves. But not you two, because I got a feeling there needs to be another talk required. Right?"

The VK attempted to make it subtly that Red and Carmine have a moment amongst themselves while he tried and explain to Chloe that it wouldn't be evil to take the cookbook. Deciding it be right to split up, Red took several fruits with her and left the room with Carmine leaving the others back in the room. She found a bench near a window where they could see outside of the school along with everyone going about their school life.

"You know I'm not fragile like these princesses. I could handle a beast, especially if it's someone close to me."

She informed Carmine about not being afraid of his beast side since her mother had actual beasts looking after her. The Cheshire boy groaned as she didn't understand that wasn't the point of him hiding it from her, more importantly, that he considered himself a danger to her.

"That's not the point. When I came back from Auradon, I was scared. I did my rhyming act but then felt myself changing into something horrible. When it was over I didn't know how to handle it more or less tell you since I thought, you'd want to use it to escape."

He told the truth that with his type of ability to leave one kingdom to the next, Red would seize the opportunity and ask him to take her away from Wonderland. Hearing that and being in disbelief of how that's what Carmine thought of her, Red slapped him upside his head on the idea of being a tool that would be thrown away when the job was done.

"I'm not afraid of you. And I would never use you to get what I want, just like that rhyme you said to me. A bird should never fly from its nest when it's dangerous to go alone, that's why we're together. To face it together."

Red told them that she didn't see him as an object like the pocket watch in her possession but as someone who was placed in a position where he had no control. The feline smiled at him as it was the first time when he heard Red being meaningful, it left him to change his colors to revert to Red which made him nervous since he didn't do it on purpose. Making sure to not be noticed, Trick was able to watch the sight of them making up made him sigh in bliss at how love could be fixed no matter where it was. Chloe didn't want to spy on them but could tell that she was being honest about how she viewed Carmine, while in addition, Red wasn't like the Queen of Hearts. It left her to believe that despite it being bad and wrong, they would need to take the book before the VK could get the chance.