Chapter Text
Red bit her lip as she watched outside the ornate doors that marked the Remedial Goodness classroom. In another timeline, she'd be behind those doors, unlearning all of the bad habits and rules her villainous mother taught her. But in this (mad, wonderful, scary) timeline, she's the proper, perfect Princess of Wonderland, eldest daughter of the Kindly Queen. No room in that title for her rebel personality. No, it seemed like her one-girl riot act fizzled from fireworks to, ugh, sparkles. And even weirder, she thought as she glimpsed a searing Pink turning a corner with some of her friends, my solo stint has become a sister act. Not that there was anything wrong with having a little sister, it's just-how could fixing one little thing in the past lead to so much change?
And that thought brings her back to why she's standing outside of Remedial Goodness class. She's hoping to catch someone once class is over. Specifically, Max Hatter…who is a VK, because his father is a villain. That father who apparently is Maddox Hatter, Red's closest and really only friend in Wonderland. In all the ways she (didn't) consider the timeline would change, she never once imagined it would twist like this. Maddox was the kindest soul to ever grace Wonderland's Court. When he became Red's tutor, she felt seen for the first time. He sensed her mischievous side lurking just under the surface, and brought it out with some…educational hands-on curriculum that may or may not have also kept the guards looking over their shoulders during patrol. When she was frightened and upset by her mother's latest public execution, he would serve her tea in his father's fancy china and just hold her close until the shivers went away. He encouraged her to find a future beyond her mother's tyranny. How could a man like that ever become a villain?
Well, she was about to find out. The classroom doors opened and the VKs poured out, grumbling under their breath. Max Hatter was easy to spot: his top hat and the fact he was just stupidly tall gave him away. Using her stealth skills acquired from her vigilante days, Red expertly weaved through the crowded hallways, grabbed Max's elbow, and slipped them into an empty classroom before any of his VK friends realized he was gone. Once she released her grip, Max spun around to face his abductor .
“Hey," Red said, trying to act casual. He was a VK, she was a (former) VK. Hopefully, he could sense that and they could have a conversation slightly more civil than the one in the courtyard. A bar that low should be easy to clear, right?
Max’s defensive posture was replaced by a sarcastic sneer and a mocking bow. “Oh, and what have I done to warrant the attention of the perfect Princess Rose Red of Wonderland?”
Oof, full government name, did not like that. Red cringed not only at the title but also the birth name this new timeline had given her. It was one thing to finally have a nice mom; it was another to get a sappy one that names her children after her favorite flowers. Although, she did feel slightly better knowing that at least she wasn't Pansy Pink. Poor kid!
“Okay, first of all, let's drop all the royal nonsense. I'm just Red,” the not-princess told him firmly, “and I'm definitely not perfect.”
Something about her response must catch his attention. Max straightened and finally took a good look at her, raking his eyes up and down. Before Red could step forward to punch him for being a creep, he murmured, “You really aren't perfect today, huh? Too much leather…” This time she did reach out-
"Wait!” Max cried, throwing up his hands to protect his face. Her fist paused by her ear. “I just meant that you look like a VK today! It's actually a relief not to see that stupid bow in your hair.” He peeked at her through his fingers. Red's eyes narrowed, but she lowered her fist to her side. He's not technically wrong, and anyway, she can't get the answers she wants if she knocks his teeth out.
“Look, just forget that. I have some questions and you're going to tell me what I want to know.”
Max put a hand to his chin as if in thought. “Hmm, not sure how much help I’ll be,” he started sardonically, “My dad's the expert on time travel reassimilation, not me.” Red froze.
“How…how did you-?”
“Give me some credit," he snarked. “You're dressed differently, you aren't smiling, and back in the courtyard you acted like you didn't know me even though I've been tormenting you since the day you got to this school. But I'm also somehow the only safe person you can find to get answers from?” he shook his head. “You don’t want me, you want my dad. It's his watch, so he must know what happened when you returned to your present. Right?”
Red snapped her gaping mouth shut. “Right," she muttered. “So, will you take me to him?”
“Well, it must be your lucky day, princess”-she glared at him- “because I have a very special unbirthday present for you.” From within his coat he produced a cream colored envelope backed with the official Auradon Prep seal. He presented it to her with a flourish. "Dad's been making me carry this around for forever.”
Red took the envelope and carefully cracked the seal. Out of the envelope spilled two tickets meant to be redeemed as a taxi fare for one round trip to…
“Maddox is living on the Isle of the Lost?!”
🎩♥️🎩
Red tapped her finger incessantly against her thigh as she watched Max make arrangements with the guard stationed just outside the Bridge of Unity (so named by the late, great Carlos de Vil). She had so many thoughts and questions spinning around in her mind, but she couldn't voice them until she was sure they wouldn't be overheard. Finally, the guard stamped the tickets with a seal of approval. The tickets wriggled out of the guard's hands and flew towards the now open bridge gate. They floated lazily for a few seconds, then all at once transformed into a two-person, driverless carriage. Wow, Fairy Godmother's magic was leagues better now than when she attended Merlin Academy.
Max wasted no time climbing in, and Red followed soon after. The tapping of her finger grew more frantic as she impatiently waited for the guard's booth to disappear from sight.
“Dodos and dormice, you're going to beat Flounder’s world record for anxious shaking if you keep that up!” huffed Max. He pinched her arm. “If you have something to ask, just ask it!”
Red glared at him but refused to rub the spot on her arm; she couldn't show any weakness. But he was right-she should just get on with it.
“What did he do?” she blurted out. Max looked a little startled at her outburst, but the floodgates were open now. “I know he's a villain in this timeline, but what did he do? Even if he committed some sort of crime, he's a citizen of Wonderland. How did he end up on the Isle of the Lost?” That was Red's biggest question. Wonderland has always been an independent nation, and even in this timeline they were allies to-rather than part of-the United States of Auradon. Maddox, as a citizen of Wonderland, would have had his trial there and should have carried his sentence out in the dungeons. Something must have gone terribly wrong if he ended up on the Isle.
“Well, that's kind of all your fault," said the young Hatter. He looks thoughtful. “Twice over in fact. Once because of the you that changed the timeline, and again because of the you that already existed here.”
Red felt a rock settle in her gut. Maddox was living on the land where you abandon all hope…because of her? Logically, she knew that she and Chloe were to blame for all of the good and bad that came in this timeline, but her self that existed here…
“Explain please," she croaked out. Max, for once taking pity on her, didn't comment on her state of distress.
“There were multiple times throughout Princess Rose Red's life that my father attempted to kidnap her. The last and worst time was nine years ago. He almost got away with you, but ran into the King and Queen on their nightly stroll through the gardens. The King, of course, engaged in battle with him. With no weapons training and one hand holding you, my father wasn't able to put up much of a fight. But he got in one good shot-or bite, I should say.” Max smiled grimly as he wiggled the last two digits of his left hand.
The rock in Red’s stomach grew to the size of a boulder. She had met King Honey (she didn't know his name, that's the only thing her mother ever called him) just this morning. She noticed his disfigured hand, and just assumed he lost them in the Looking Glass Wars or something. The reality was so much more horrible.
“Then what happened?” she whispered.
“Then he was caught, obviously,” shrugged Max. “The Queen was so traumatized by the incident that she banished him to the Isle of the Lost.”
This was almost too much for Red. The Maddox she knew was so sweet and kind; she never would have imagined he could be violent. Even worse, her mother and the other monarchs obviously sent a young Max into exile with his father. He would have been only eight at the time, ripped from his home and left to survive in a place where cruelty spreads like an infection. How selfish was she to ignore Maddox's warning! Too eager to finally know a mother’s love, she changed the timeline and left another child to suffer in her place! She should have just sucked it up, dealt with it until-
A sharp poke to the forehead brought her out of her spiraling. “You're thinking too hard,” Max berated. This time she rubbed the sore spot automatically. Her heart was already cracking, what use would it be to hide her pain now?
“I'm sorry,” she murmured, “it’s my fault your dad's a villain, and you suffered the consequences too.”
The boy blinked, then sighed loudly. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and gave a quick squeeze. He looked directly in her eyes and said, “No matter what timeline we're living in, my father makes his own choices. You may have set up the croquet game, but he's the one who swung the mallet.”
Red gave him a small smile. In a weird, Wonderland way, that did make her feel better. And brave enough to ask her next question.
“So, why did Maddox try to kidnap me anyways? That's the part I really don't get.” Even in a world where her mother's nice, she was still too busy to attend to the girls' early education herself. Maddox would have been brought in as their tutor, and he'd see her everyday.
Max immediately let go of her shoulder and faced forward. “That's a rather confounding explanation. I think you should hear it from the man himself,” the VK hedged.
Red huffed, but didn't get a chance to protest as the carriage suddenly stopped. They had made it to the Isle of the Lost.