Chapter 2: Once Upon A Time
I fluttered my eyes open to the sun beaming down on me.
"Hello? Helloooo?" I heard a voice so close to me, yet it sounded faint.
When my eyes were adjusted from the bright light, I saw two girls standing above me! One had a head full of bright red hair? The other one had bright blue hair.
I flinched when I felt one of them poke my cheek. "Red! Don't poke her like that!" The blue-haired girl was scolding the one with red hair. I think her name was Red?
"Hey, at least they're alive, Chloe!" Red retorted and crossed her arms.
I heard the others that fell through the portal with me groan as they stirred awake.
"Camille? Where are you?" I heard Feather grumble. That made me so happy.
"Feather! I'm so glad you're okay!" I hugged the second-in-command angel tightly, almost knocking her down. Feather chuckled at me for being worried about her.
"Hey! We're still here too!" Tomik protested while Emmara shook her head and laughed at his little drama queen moment.
"Yeah, yeah I know", I rolled my eyes and then chuckled.
"Say, where are we?" Feather looked around the lush grassy area we were all lying in. There was a huge building that looked like a castle looming over us.
"Welcome to Auradon Prep! I'm Chloe Charming!" Chloe beamed brightly.
I glanced at the castle Chloe had called Auradon Prep. Its golden spires shimmered under the sunlight, and the intricate carvings on the stone walls hinted at a storybook kind of history. But something about this place felt... off.
"Uh, Auradon Prep? What even is that?" Tomik asked, dusting off his jacket. His voice dripped with skepticism, though I could tell he was intrigued.
"It's only the most prestigious school in all of Auradon!" Chloe chirped as if we should already know this. "Everyone who's anyone studies here—princes, princesses, heroes, even reformed villains!" She gave an almost rehearsed twirl, her bright blue hair catching the sunlight.
"Villains? Reformed?" Emmara raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with suspicion. "And who decides who's reformed?"
Red—still looking unimpressed—shrugged. "Uma runs the place. It's all about giving people a second chance or whatever." Her tone made it clear she wasn't entirely on board with the concept.
Feather stepped forward, her silver wings catching the light as she folded them neatly behind her. "Wait. Are you saying we're not in our world anymore?"
Chloe and Red exchanged glances before Chloe gave a small, apologetic smile. "No, you're not. You fell through a portal, right? That kind of thing usually means you've crossed into Auradon."
My heart sank. How were we supposed to get back if we weren't in our world?
"Well, that's just great," Tomik muttered, throwing his hands up. "We fall through a portal, land in some sparkly fairytale school, and no one's even asking how we're getting home?"
"Relax, drama king," Feather said, rolling her eyes. "We need more information before we panic."
Chloe clapped her hands together, her cheeriness undeterred. "Oh, don't worry about getting home just yet! Why don't you all come meet the headmistress? She'll know what to do!"
"Meet...Uma?" Emmara asked cautiously.
"Exactly!" Chloe beamed.
"Fine," I said, brushing myself off. "Lead the way."
Red rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with our group already. "Follow me, newbies. Try not to trip over your own feet while you're at it."
As we followed them toward the towering castle, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this Auradon Prep than Chloe was letting on.
"So, where are you guys from?" Red asked my group as we walked to the headmistress.
Feather and I gave each other a quick look before I responded. "Well, we're from a huge city called Ravnica. It's run by ten guilds with magic. Feather and I are from the guild Boros."
"I'm from the guild Orzhov", Tomik interjected.
"While I'm from the wonderful guild of Selesnya", Emmara quietly chimed in.
"That sounds so amazing!" Chloe beamed with excitement.
Red raised an eyebrow. "Guilds? Like cliques or something?"
"Not exactly," Feather replied, a hint of pride in her tone. "They're more like factions, each with their own philosophies, magic, and responsibilities in the city. Boros is all about justice and order."
"Uh-huh," Red said skeptically. "So, the shiny cop squad."
Feather bristled, but I put a hand on her shoulder, shaking my head slightly. No need to start a fight—not yet, anyway.
"What about your guild?" Chloe asked, her curiosity unabated as she turned to Tomik.
"The Orzhov Syndicate," Tomik said with a wry smile. "We're…entrepreneurs."
"Shady bankers, more like," Emmara teased, earning a glare from Tomik.
"And you?" Chloe asked Emmara, her enthusiasm undeterred.
"Selesnya is about harmony, nature, and balance," Emmara explained softly. "We believe in unity."
"That sounds so cool!" Chloe gushed, practically bouncing as she walked.
Red rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sounds like you're all magical overachievers. Let's just hope Uma's in a good mood today."
Something about her tone made my stomach twist. I caught Feather's eye again, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She felt it too—something wasn't adding up.
As we neared the castle's grand entrance, its sheer size became even more imposing. The gates creaked open with an almost theatrical groan, revealing a courtyard bustling with students. Some looked like they'd stepped straight out of a fairy tale, with their jeweled outfits and impeccable poise. Others had an edge to them—like they didn't quite belong in a place as polished as this.
"Welcome to Auradon Prep," Chloe said, gesturing dramatically to the courtyard.
A few students glanced our way, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright suspicion. I felt the weight of their stares and instinctively straightened my posture.
Red led us through the courtyard, weaving past groups of students until we reached a pair of massive wooden doors. She pushed them open, revealing an office that looked like a mix between a royal throne room and a pirate ship's cabin.
Behind a grand desk sat a woman with striking teal hair and a commanding presence. She wore a tailored coat that was equal parts regal and practical, her sharp eyes scrutinizing us as we entered.
"Well, well," the woman said, leaning back in her chair. "What do we have here?"
"Headmistress Uma," Chloe said, her usual cheerfulness slightly subdued. "These newcomers fell through a portal. They're…not from around here."
Uma's gaze swept over us, and I felt like she could see right through me. "Interesting," she murmured. "Very interesting."
Tomik shifted uncomfortably. "Look, we just need to figure out how to get back home. We didn't mean to end up here."
"Of course you didn't," Uma said smoothly, though her tone held a hint of amusement. "No one ever means to stumble into Auradon. But portals don't open without a reason."
"What kind of reason?" Feather asked, stepping forward.
Uma smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's what we're going to find out. In the meantime, you'll stay here. Consider it…an opportunity to learn more about this world while we figure out a way to send you back."
"Stay here?" I repeated, alarmed.
"Yes," Uma said firmly. "You'll attend classes, follow the rules, and try not to stir up any trouble." Her gaze lingered on Feather and me as if she already expected us to break that last rule.
Before any of us could argue, Chloe clapped her hands. "Oh, this is going to be so fun! You'll love it here, I promise!"
Red snorted. "Yeah, fun. Sure."
Uma leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. "One more thing. You may not be from this world, but that doesn't mean you're exempt from its dangers. Stay on your guard. Auradon Prep isn't as safe as it seems."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. I glanced at my friends, and I could tell they felt the same unease.
"Now," Uma said, her tone lightening, "Chloe and Red will show you to your quarters. Get settled in. We'll talk more tomorrow."
As we left the office, Red smirked at us. "Welcome to Auradon Prep," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Hope you survive the experience."
The castle halls were as grand as the exterior, with tall stained-glass windows that cast colorful light across the polished stone floors. Despite the beauty of the place, I couldn't shake the unease growing in the pit of my stomach.
Red led the way, her boots clicking loudly against the floor. Chloe skipped beside her, practically glowing with excitement. Feather stayed close to me, her wings slightly spread as if ready to shield us from whatever might come next.
"So," Red said over her shoulder, "do all of you have wings? Or is that just a special feature of…Boros, was it?"
"Boros," Feather corrected, giving Red a tight-lipped smile. "And no, not everyone in our guild has wings. It's a gift—or a responsibility, depending on how you look at it."
"Cool," Red said, though her tone made it sound like she didn't care much.
Chloe, on the other hand, practically squealed. "You're angels?! Like actual angels? That's amazing! Do you smite people with, like, heavenly lightning and stuff?"
Feather chuckled. "Something like that."
"And what about you guys?" Chloe turned to Tomik and Emmara, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What can you do?"
"I can balance a budget," Tomik said dryly, earning a snort from Red.
"And I work with nature magic," Emmara added. "Healing, growth, things like that."
"Nature magic? Oh, you'll love Professor Flora's class!" Chloe said brightly. "She teaches Enchanted Botany and Restoration Spells. It's perfect for someone like you!"
Red rolled her eyes. "Yeah, if you like plants and glitter."
"Glitter's amazing," Chloe shot back, sticking out her tongue.
We turned a corner, and Red stopped in front of a heavy oak door. She pushed it open to reveal a spacious room with high ceilings, several beds, and a large window overlooking the courtyard.
"This is where you'll stay," Red announced, leaning against the doorframe. "It's the guest dorm. Don't get used to it, though. If Uma lets you stick around, she'll probably move you to one of the real dorms."
Chloe clapped her hands together. "Oh, it's so cozy! You'll love it here!"
I walked to the window and looked out at the bustling courtyard below. Students were scattered everywhere—laughing, chatting, practicing magic. It looked idyllic, but I couldn't ignore the tension that lingered beneath the surface.
"Cozy," Tomik muttered, dropping his bag on one of the beds. "Sure. Let's call it that."
Feather crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the room. "It'll do for now. But we need to figure out how to get home—and fast."
Red smirked. "Good luck with that. Portals don't just open whenever you feel like it. You'll be here for a while, whether you like it or not."
Before Feather could snap back, Chloe grabbed Red's arm. "Come on, Red. Let's give them some space to settle in."
Red shrugged and turned to leave. "Don't break anything," she called over her shoulder.
As soon as they were gone, Emmara sat on the edge of a bed, her expression thoughtful. "So…what do we think of this place?"
"It's suspicious," Feather said immediately. "Everyone's too…polished. Like they're hiding something."
"Agreed," I said, turning away from the window. "And Uma—she didn't tell us everything. There's more going on here than they're letting on."
"Obviously," Tomik said, flopping onto his bed. "But what choice do we have? We're stuck here until they figure out how to send us back."
"Maybe we shouldn't just wait for them to figure it out," Feather suggested. "We can start looking for answers ourselves."
"How?" Emmara asked. "We don't even know where to start."
"We start with the students," Feather said firmly. "If there's a secret in this place, someone knows it."
I nodded. "Feather's right. We stick together, stay sharp, and gather as much information as we can. We'll find a way home—one way or another."
A knock at the door interrupted our conversation.
"Hey, newbies!" Red's voice called from the hallway. "Headmistress says you're joining dinner tonight. Don't keep us waiting!"
Feather raised an eyebrow. "Dinner? This should be interesting."
Tomik groaned. "Great. More sparkles and fairy tale nonsense."
"Let's play nice," I said, heading for the door. "At least until we know what we're dealing with."
As we followed Red back down the hall, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets Auradon Prep was hiding—and whether we'd survive long enough to uncover them.