Chap 12

The Queen was humming 'Golden Afternoon' while she waltzed down the center of the principal's office, the floor under her turned red with each step as she pointed her finger around the room, changing pictures on the desks to vases of red roses, changing the stained glass from blue and yellow to red hearts. She did so with as much joy as she had earlier when blocking the exits to the courtyard. Behind her by just a step was Red, she looked downward at the carpet, her eyes barely ever blinking, the red heart shaped kiss prominent on her cheekbone. Her hair was now straight as her mother's, she had dark eyeliner on the upper and lower lash line of her eyes, she wore a black corset with red hearts on it with a sweetheart neckline, above that going up and around the base of her neck was black mesh. She had fingerless red gloves that went all the way to her upper arms that matched her skinny jeans. Her boots were less chunky and more heeled like Camilla's tall pirate boots and Red looked nothing like herself. Her face was blank, her eyes were empty, it was more of a shell walking behind the Queen then her daughter. Not that Bridget cared much. Red was finally in the place she was meant to be.

All was as it should be. . . until it wasn't.

She heard the sound of metal on metal and her smile fell almost immediately. Going to the nearest window the Queen looked down into the courtyard as the glass cast red hearts across her face. The girl with the black and white hair and the boy in purple were below engaging her guards in a fight. She was even more appalled to see Jack of Diamonds among them fighting the men he used to lead. The citizens of Auradon all gasped in horror as the boy conjured green fire in his hands and launched it at the guards. Many of them ducking to protect themselves and dropping their weapons in the process.

"They just don't know when to quit." she said as she turned and headed for the door. Without saying a word Red followed her but as soon as they stepped foot into the hall they were both tackled.

"Ahhh!" the Queen yelled as she was thrown into the wall, her assaulter pinning her back against the dark wood, "Ella what are you doing!"

Cinderella had shoved her quite hard against the wall, taking advantage of her surprise attack knocking Bridget off balance.

"Getting my hands dirty." She replied as the Queen fought back and Ella tried her best to get the clutch purse off of her. But Bridget dug her sharp nails into her upper arms making Cinderella shout as they tousled.

Chloe had tackled Red who, even brainwashed, knew enough to fight back. She grabbed a flag from its stand and ripped the material off, pointing the sharpened end at Chloe. However, the expert fighter had come prepared and had already stolen a sword off one of the decorative suits of armor lining the halls. She drew the blade and engaged Red in a fight. Their weapons clanged against one another before Chloe retreated and ran - just like they planned. Red gave chase with her makeshift spear as their mothers continued shoving each other back and forth into the walls.

Outside Drac, Camilla and Jack were succeeding in creating chaos. It was easy to see how Jack was captain, he was easily winning a fight against two of the guards. Camilla still had the sword she'd nabbed off Hook and Drac's aim with his lime fire was so on point he hit each guard flawlessly without burning a single hostage.

"Uma!" Camilla shouted as she tossed a red sword from one of the defeated guards to the sea witch. Uma grabbed it in one hand while using her other arm to elbow the knight behind her holding her captive. While it would have been nice for the Auradon citizens to get up and help overpower the guards, Camilla knew they more likely would have just gotten in the way. So perhaps it was best most of them were huddled near the small tables trying to take cover.

Then from behind the stage Chloe came running out with Red on her heels, and boy did she not look like Red at all. But she fought like Red. She swung her spear at Chloe who leaned back to dodge the sharp tip. Red swung twice more in quick succession forcing Chloe back. She used her sword to block the next strike before she spun trying to put some distance between them, she crouched, bending one knee and extending her other leg as Red jumped and brought the point down to skewer her. Instead the spear dug into the ground and Chloe was able to run as Red tried to free her weapon. When she did she tossed it in the air where it spun before she caught it, then she lobbed it at Chloe who ducked before it could take off her head and instead went into one of the cards Red's mom had used to seal everyone inside.

"Let! Go!" Bridget shouted inside as she was able to push back Ella whose steps were unsteady as she regained her balance. Two things were working well in her favor. One, that Bridget had taken her glass slippers leaving her barefoot but much better off to fight. And two, Camilla's quick work ripping off most of the overly poofy skirt that had been attached to her dress. Her shimmering tights still glistened along her legs where the hemline now ended at her knees.

"You can't beat me Ella. I'm the one with magic." she sneered.

"I'm not trying to beat you Bridget." Cinderella said panting, "I'm trying to save you."

"YOU'RE TWENTY YEARS TOO LATE FOR THAT!" she screamed with wide crazy eyes before she swung, going to claw at Ella's face. But Cinderella grabbed her wrist with both hands and the two of them continued their fight. As Bridget tried to harm Cinderella, physically or magically, Ella was refocused on her target - Bridget's purse. And now she was in the perfect position to tear it off the Queen. Once it was secure in her hand she ducked, ripping herself free of Bridget's hold while the Queen's extra momentum from trying to push Ella sent her into the couch. Ella ran to the closest window and dug her hand through the clutch, pulling out the heart shaped ruby encrusted mirror. She opened the window and looked down at the courtyard. Camilla was directly below her besting one of the guards.

"Camilla!" she shouted and the girl kicked her opponent in the chest sending him sprawling backward as she looked up and saw Cinderella. She held out the mirror, stuffed it back into the bag and dropped it into Camilla's waiting hand. Then she was pulled back by her dark braid as Bridget got hold of her again and she had to fight with all she had to break free.

Below, Camilla pulled out the mirror then looked around for Red and Chloe. The pair were still in a heated battle, Red trying to impale Chloe while the brunette used her sword to spin the spear not allowing it to run straight very smoothly, if at all. Red's teeth were clenched as she focused on the fight. Chloe ran for a wall and taking a small leap used her foot to pivot off it while Red crashed into it. When she recovered she ran at Chloe again. Only this time Chloe ran at her then – right before Red made her strike - she did a one handed cartwheel off to the side that turned into a tuck and roll that she flawlessly recovered from as she got to her feet again - now much closer to Camilla.

"Chloe!" she shouted and the girl turned as she threw her the mirror. Chloe flipped it open and held it up in front of her. As Red ran at her again she paused just as the tip of the spear was about to get Chloe in the heart. Her eyes stared into the mirror no doubt seeing herself, dressed as she was, ruling side by side with her mom. A future she didn't want. A future she dreaded.

The spear fell from her hands and her fingers began to tremble. She looked down at her hands, then around the courtyard at all the people looking at her, all with baited breath waiting to see what was going to happen.

Red shook her head bringing her hands to her temples, she groaned, and Chloe – who had squeezed her eyes shut bracing to be stabbed – opened one eye to peek at Red. As she realized their plan was working Red groaned again, shook her head, then slowly looked up.

"Chloe?" She asked sounding out of it. Chloe nodded her head panting as she caught her breath. Then Red's breaths became uneven, it took Chloe a minute to figure out what was happening but then she realized: Red was crying. Chloe didn't hesitate to throw down her sword and embrace her - much to the shock of the citizens of Auradon looking on the scene.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Shhh, it's not your fault."

Red sobbed into her shoulder, "It was everything I never wanted to be."

"It's okay." Chloe rubbed her back, "It's over now."

Even the Queen's guards had stopped fighting, confused as to what was going on as they watched their princess. The two girls pulled back and Chloe pulled out a kerchief and handed it to Red. She wiped away her tears and most of the harsh makeup, looking more like herself. Then she looked down at her outfit.

"Ugh, what am I wearing?"

Chloe and Camilla chuckled as Jack broke through the crowd, holding Red's riot jacket Camilla had left in the cells. He got down on one knee before her and held up the item of clothing in offering. "My Princess."

Red looked sheepish but gave him a small smile as she took the jacket, "Thanks Jack."

Red slid into it, covering up the corset her mom had forced her into.

Then Cinderella appeared in the archway behind the stage. Charming, who was so out of it from his grief and still half under a table looked up and noticed her and the life seemed to return in his eyes.

"Ella?" he asked getting up and rushing to her as she ran to him barefoot and her dress torn up. They embraced off to the side just as the Queen of Hearts charged through the archway. She rested her arm on one wall and was catching her breath too. She caught Ella in her sights, Charming clutching her to his body.

But before the Queen could lift a finger Red called. "Mom."

The Queen turned to her and seemed to realize her spell had been broken. She straightened her posture, trying her best to look regal and in complete control, though it was obvious her coup was unraveling. Red walked up to her mom without fear, she stopped about a foot from her as the Queen folded her hands as if she was waiting for something.

"I'm sorry Mom." Red began, "I'm not sorry for not being the daughter you wanted. I'm not sorry for who I am. But I am sorry. . . that I never tried to get to know you." The Queen tilted her head, the words her daughter was saying not what she expected to hear. Red had always been more rebellious, not so. . . fragile. "I never took the time to even try."

Camilla whispered to Drac, "So save Red, check. But what now? The Queen is still evil, she's not going to just let this go and go skipping back home with Red all happily ever after."

Drac's mind was spinning as he tried to figure out what they could do before the Queen snapped out of this little moment and used her magic to end them all.

There had to be some reason they'd been sent back to that moment in time. There had to be a reason Drac and Camilla were here. He ran a hand through his hair and the motion made something in his jacket clink softly. Reaching in he pulled out the vial of potion from Merlin's class, remembering what it did, and looked to Camilla who was staring at him.

"Take something from the past." he said.

"To fix the future." she finished. He looked back to the Queen of Hearts and Red and stepped forward.

"Your majesty!" he called as the Queen turned to him and he froze under her cold stare. He held out the vial. "There's something you really need to know. . .if I may?"

"Hm." the Queen tilted her head gesturing for him to approach.

He uncorked the vial and whispered a quiet, "Sorry." to Red before tugging out a strand of her hair.

"Ow!" she hissed rubbing her head as Drac inserted the hair into the vial. The potion dissolved it almost instantly and he held it out to the Queen while getting on one knee, hoping the extra respect would cause her to drink the potion and not chuck it over her shoulder, or toss it in his face.

Her red tipped nails took it from his hand and she examined it for a moment. "If this does what that cupcake did. . . I'll have a nice dragon-skin rug to return to Wonderland with."

He swallowed nervously as he looked at the ground. In this realm Maleficent didn't have a son, so he couldn't expect anyone to spare him for fear of his parent's wrath. The Queen looked the potion over for another moment, then she chugged it back in one go. After her last swallow she gasped and her eyes began to flutter as she blinked a bit faster then normal. He wished he knew what was going on inside her head.

Bridget was breathless as the images flashed before her, along with Red's voice echoing in her mind. She saw her younger self through her daughter's eyes, saw the younger her offer a hug, give Red words of comfort, along with commentary of Red's thoughts in those exact moments. She's so pink. She's beautiful when she smiles. She bakes? Everyone seems to adore her. Oh I don't think so squid face, you're not messing with my mom. She still cares about if Uliana is okay? She seems so excited for Castlecoming. No one's going to prank her on my watch. Look how excited she is. How do I stop this prank? How do I save my mom? A mom more like Bridget. . . A mom who might actually love me. A mom I could talk to like I talk to Bridget. I have to save her. Losing is not an option. No one messes with my mom.

The empty vial slipped from the Queen's fingers and shattered on the cobblestones.

"You tried to save me." she said in a tone that they couldn't tell was happy-surprised or angry-surprised. Her eyes turned to Red, "You tried to stop it. . . why?"

Red looked stunned by the question, "You're my mom, and you were right. It was cruel, and. . . no one should go through that. I didn't want you to."

"Ella was off with her prince when it happened." she sneered, "Off falling in love. So enamored that she didn't even think twice about me. I was left alone in that ballroom, surrounded by people. . . all laughing at me." she said, anger seeping into her tone, "I. Had. No one. My whole life I had no one." her voice became a whisper, "No one but you."

She gasped and placed a hand over her heart like something struck her there.

"Mom?" Red asked as the Queen rubbed her chest then moved her hand to cover her mouth with her fingers. She took a few deep breaths before lowering her hand back to her torso.

"My daughter tried to save me." she said to herself sounding more choked up as a tear actually fell from her eye. "You did all that, for me?"

Red took a hesitant step forward, then another more determined one, then she hugged her mother. The Queen let out a shaky breath as more tears came and her arms slowly embraced Red, one resting on the back of her head stroking her hair. "I've always been so hard on you. Why would you go through the trouble?"

Red didn't let go as she shrugged into the hug, "I love you Mom."

The Queen looked touched as she rested her cheek on Red's head.

"I get it now." Red said into her mom's shoulder, "I get why you wanted me to stop trying to love and try to be feared. I know you were trying to protect me."

The Queen let out another deep breath, starting to compose herself, "If anything like that ever happened to you, I would take everyone's head. The idea of my daughter living through the same humiliation I did. . . I had to protect you from that. Even if it meant being harsh. I just wanted to make you see."

"I know. But you can't make me stop loving. Because I'll always love you Mom."

The Queen pulled back and cupped Red's face with one hand, smiled and pointed a finger at her with the other hand. "You. . . " she wagged her finger, "I love you Red."

The flowers on her dress started changing, beginning from the center and spreading outward. They all turned white, though the tips stayed red. The crowd around them gasped in awe and some made sweet cooing sounds at the love between the mother and daughter. Camilla noticed a speaker nearby and bumped it with her hip. A soft melody started playing and the Queen and Red began to sway. The music grew louder as others joined in and before long everyone was celebrating again.

Then, as the others were all dancing, Drac and Camilla began to fade away. They looked to one another and knew whatever magic had brought them here must now be sending them back. They'd accomplished what they'd been called to do and now had to return to their own realms. Just before they were gone Chloe saw them and bid them farewell with a smile and a wave from across the courtyard. They waved back and in the next second they were gone.

The sun shines a little more brightly. The sun shines a little more brightly. When you take things a little more lightly. It's all gonna turn out nicely, with just a taste of your heart. It's likely – you'll fall into something spicy. Just mix it up you'll keep finding that, life is sweeter when you are. Life is sweeter when you, sweeter when you, life is sweeter when we are.