Chapter Eight: Meet the Cliques
Bridget and Ella led Chloe and Red into the halls that were crowded with students listening to walk mans and twiddling magic wands. Bridget smiled and said hello to nearly everyone.
"It's really not a secret recipe," she explained. Her heels clicked on the stairs as Red filled Chloe in on exactly who Bridget was. "A little butter, flour, sugar, and a lot of positivity. Honestly, it always works for me. That's why I've got enough to go around for everyone I see."
The girls were back outside for the lunch hour and students, lured by the smells of sweets, flocked to Bridget. Ella pushed a cart filled with more cupcakes and was constantly refilling the tray. Students marveled at the effect of the flamingo feathers, watching their bracelets, hats, shoes, and even pants turn a vibrant shade of pink.
Bridget hooked her spare arm with Red's. "Stick with Ella and I, we'll show you the cliques around here. She's the one who taught me after all."
First, Ella led them to spot under a willow tree where a blonde girl with large sheer wings was sitting. She waved her wand, but nothing happened
"Hi Bleu!" Bridget held out her tray. "How are you?"
Bleu sighed and took a sweet. "I'm worried I'm going to be here for more than a spell. It never really works out well for me. With a wave of my wand and its 'whoopsie…'"
When she took a bite the pink magic zipped down up into her wand, turning the white staff pink.
"We heard you had snacks," a boy suddenly interjected. He wore a linen shirt and red linen pants, holding the hand of a girl in a purple sari.
"Mowgli and Shanti, they're international-exchange students," Ella explained as Bridget handed out cupcakes.
"We're going by Moti, now, actually," Shanti giggled. The golden ribbon her sari turned pink after she bit into the treat. "He's like a magnet…"
"She's so attractive."
Bridget and Ella led Red and Chloe away as the pair started to nuzzle noses.
"Who's at that table over there?" Chloe asked, pointing at a large group by the doors of the academy. She saw girls in ruffled dresses with poofy sleeves and boys with popped collars, wearing crowns and tiaras that glittered in the noon sun.
Ella took a minute to respond. "The royals all sit over there."
"Then why aren't you over there?" Red asked Bridget who just shrugged.
"Ella's stepsisters normally sit near them, and they don't like us sitting too close, so we tend to avoid their clique."
Chloe was still looking at the table and spotted a boy with a skateboard and dark hair. The crest on his jean jacket was very familiar…
"Ella, you've never met any of them? Not even a prince?"
But Ella shook her head.
"So, you're friends with everyone?" Red asked Bridget as she restocked her tray from the cart.
"Oh gosh no, my only friend is Ella," the pink princess laughed. The best friends shared a smile and straightened the treats on the tray to make them look their best. "But with time and a few more treats, they will be. After all, who doesn't love a sweet princess?"
Red glanced at Ella whose smile had turned sickly. She quickly looked down at her beat-up sneakers.
Bridget continued passing out cupcakes, to the jocks and the nerds and the art kids alike. Finally, they only had a few left and Red saw the last group of students in the dark shadow of a tower. They were eyeing Bridget's tray. "Who are they?"
Ella and Bridget froze.
"Those are…" Bridget started.
"The magic users," Ella finished. "Witches and warlocks and major bullies.
"They're led by three powerful kids. There's James Hook, he's got a golden hook instead of a hand, claims he's captain of the seas, and makes everyone shake in their boots." She pointed to a boy with a dark curly perm and a long red leather coat over a pressed white shirt.
"Wait, he's a pirate, he doesn't have magic," Red countered.
But Bridget shook her head. "He was born in Neverland, he's got pixie dust in his blood."
"Then there's Morgie." Ella was pointing to a skinny boy with overly gelled blond hair. He was wearing high-waisted dusty pink pants with a black belt and a purple button up shirt tucked into the waistband, with darker purple animals on the fabric, the tall, popped collar reaching nearly to his ears. His green eyes flickered into snake eyes for a moment, behind his large circular lenses held together with wire. "He's super snake like, the only son of Madam Mim.
"But the worst of them all is Uliana."
Sitting in the circle of witches and warlocks was a girl with green and yellow dreads wearing yellow and black distressed plaid pants, a shredded black shirt with a fish skeleton painted on, and a deep blue leather jacket over it all, covered in patches from all over the world. Fishnet gloves covered her hands, showcasing her wickedly sharp nails.
"She's Ursula's littlest sister," Bridget explained with a hint of laughter still in her voice.
It was at that moment that the sea witch turned sharply, locking eyes with the tour group. She stood slowly, slinking towards Bridget's bright smile. Her cohorts, smelling mischief, followed her with eager grins.
But Bridget didn't back down. She held out her sweets, smile locked in place. Only Red noticed her knees knocking together.
"Thanks," Uliana simpered, taking a sweet. Pink frosting got under her nails.
Bridget smiled wider. "Of course! Happy to share-"
But a slimy tentacle suddenly reached out and yanked the tray out of Bridget's hands.
"For all of them," Uliana cut in. Her tentacle held the tray high over everyone's head. Hook and Morgie were laughing. "I mean, Wonderland flamingo feathers are, like, super rare, right?"
"Wait!" Ella stepped in front of her friend. "Bridget worked really hard on those, give them back!"
"I'm sorry, I don't speak peasant girl, Cinders-Ella." Uliana glared at her. Another tentacle was slowly inching towards her. "I love your outfit, though…it's just so put together."
In the blink of an eye, the tentacle reached up and pulled a sleeve of Ella's jean jacket clean off. The denim fell around her wrist, thread dangling from the tear. Bridget flinched while Ella's eyes filled with tears. Somehow both of them still had sugary smiles stuck on their faces.
Chloe rushed over to her mom and began inspecting the rip. "We can fix this, we can fix it, don't worry, it'll be okay."
Morgie laughed harder at the antics. "'Put together' because it's not! Wicked, Uli!"
A crowd was forming, the nerds and the jocks and the art kids and the fairies and the royals circling around the bullies and the four girls.
Uliana was just getting started. "My name's Bridget and I have to bribe people with treats just to be my friend because I'm such a loner," she mocked in a high-pitched squeak. Bridget's hands had started to shake, trembles racing down her whole body.
"Hey!" Red suddenly surged forward, pulling a lacrosse stick from a jock's hands, holding it up like it was a bat. "Why don't you go back to the grimy hole you all crawled out of?"
"Easy lass," Hook stepped forward, his golden hook pointing to her throat. Red's gut squirmed with his expression, but she didn't back down. "I dunno know where you come from, but here we don't fight until after school. Meet me then…"
His other hand reached up and pushed aside a lock of her hair, fingers grazing her collarbone. Her vision turned red and she shoved him, hard, right in the chest. Hook went toppling to the ground while the crowd laughed.
Red held the stick over her head, ready to swing. "You wouldn't stand a chance."
She was pretty sure at least. Red didn't have a lot (or any) fighting training, but she was full of rage at this exact moment.
Chloe stepped in between them, pushing Red back slightly. Hook stood up, still laughing slightly.
"This is all getting out of hand." Chloe glanced at Ella and Bridget before forcing herself to meet Uliana's eyes. She fought to keep her voice steady. "How about you just give the cupcakes back and we'll all go our separate ways?"
"Oh, girl," Uliana drawled. Her tentacles plucked the feathers off the cupcakes. "I only wanted the feathers. You can have the rest!"
The tray tipped, shattering on the ground. Pink frosting splattered on the grass and on Chloe's glass slippers.
Ella was no longer smiling as people began to laugh. Chloe was holding tight to Red, keeping her in check.
Uliana's tentacle lowered, feathers held tight. She opened her mouth wide…
"Wait!" Bridget cut in. Only she still looked kind, still with a friendly smile. But her eyes were worried. "That's too many!"
Uliana rolled her eyes. The feathers were swallowed in one bite, and she beamed at the delicious taste. The bullies cheered for their leader while Bridget swallowed and took a step back.
"You shouldn't have done that," she warned.
Uliana's eyes rolled again. The bullies were starting to break off, looking to the crowd for new targets. They were clearly claiming victory.
But the students felt like this wasn't over. They leaned in…
And heard Uliana squawk, just like a bird. Her cheeks flushed and she turned it into a cough, but another squawk slipped out, earsplittingly loud.
Her dreadlocks were turning pink, a bright fuchsia in the landscape of her sea green hair.
The royals were laughing, the art kids looked scared, and the bullies didn't know what to do next.
"You're looking a little pink there, Uli!" Hook called with a laugh.
She was coughing up feathers now. "Shut up!"
More squawks. Bridget's hands were shaking. Uliana pressed her hands to her face, screaming…
And then she looked up.
The crowds jumped back with a laugh. Uliana's face had been transformed into a flamingo's, beak and all.
Her beady black eyes narrowed in Bridget's direction.
Red had seen this play out countless times in Wonderland. She grabbed Bridget and ran, feet flying. Chloe grabbed Ella and the two followed, ducking back into the school.
Uliana was the first to follow them, then her goons, then the entire school.
"I tried to warn you!" Bridget called back.
Red pulled her harder. "Run!"
She had never been to Merlin Academy and Red knew that was a colossal disadvantage. She steered down random hallways, had to double back through the library, and twist around random students and teachers.
It wasn't enough, the bullies were gaining.
Morgie had shapeshifted into a long snake with purple scales that slithered around the girls' ankles, trying to trip them. Red, in a fury, picked up the serpent and launched him out a nearby window. The girls turned and plowed into a courtyard dominated by a large fountain. As they tried to leave, Hook stepped into an arch, blocking their path. Sunlight glinted off the sharp edge of his hook.
"Hey there, darlings," he purred. "We just want to have a wee chat!"
Red started to lead them back the way they had come. But Uliana, beak and all, was already there.
She was still squawking.
Bridget jumped back, onto the ledge of the fountain. Chloe pulled Ella back into the crowds of students that were pouring in.
Red ducked Hook's grabby hands as Uliana jumped onto the ledge of the fountain, cornering Bridget.
"I told you to be careful!" she protested. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Ella reached forward and pulled her friend down, pushing through the students and headed back into the halls.
"I'm sorry!" Bridget yelled one last time before she vanished.
Uliana turned to follow but her feet teetered on the fountain's ledge. Her center of gravity shifted, and she began to fall. Neither Hook nor Morgie moved as she waved her arms, crashing into the murky fountain water with a great splash.
The students burst into laughter. Red and Chloe faded into the crowds, watching the pink feathers fall off, Uliana returned to normal (only with very smudged makeup and wet clothes).
The laughter only increased as Uliana looked around, wildly searching. Even Hook and Morgie were giggling.
"Where's Bridget?" she demanded.
"That was bad," Chloe whispered to Red. She'd heard stories about villains and their grudges.
"I will destroy HER!" Uliana roared. With angry splashes, she pulled herself out of the fountain and stomped away. Morgie and Hook followed, looking properly embarrassed for laughing.
The crowd began to dissipate, students headed back to lunch or off to their next class. Red and Chloe were still frozen in the courtyard.
"So, pretty sure we just found out who's going to do the prank," Red breathed. Chloe nodded.
But how were they going to stop the sea witch on a war path?
1. Maleficent and Hades are not the same age as Cinderella, neither is the Fairy Godmother. They are way older so they're not in this school/story
2. Jasmine and Aladdin didn't meet until after school. Mowgli and Shanti met as kids. Way better 'dating in high school' couple
3. Imagine Merlin Academy with an 80s filter. That's how I pictured it. It bothers me that, when Red and Chloe go back in time, the fashion/aesthetic doesn't change. Either go back to ballgowns and rags like the Disney movies or pick a fun era to set it in. But it looking the exact same as modern Auradon makes no sense.
4. Morgana only exists in Disney works in Sofia the First. I don't know why they didn't choose Madam Mim to be Morgie's mom, given that she's Merlin's actual rival in Sword in the Stone and has animal shape shifting abilities. So yes that change was intentional