Chapter Text
Max and Hazel walked through the hallways of Auradon, watching everyone part as they passed. It had only been a couple days since Maddox had been captured and Red had kept true to her word about trying to help him.
“Don’t you find it odd though? She went from being a prissy nepo-baby to actually having a brain and trying to help us. Hell, she’s friends with all of us now.” While past Max would’ve agreed with her, he had looked into Iraculum and seen what the past looked like. The Red from this timeline was the classic Nepo-baby princess, but the Red that had replaced her was a VK through and through.
“Max, are you listening?” He shook himself from his thoughts and looked over at his friend, seeing her look he finally made a decision.
“Do you want to know why? I can show you.” It took her a moment to realize what he was talking about but the moment she did she nodded. “Yeah, why not. Maybe it will make me stop scratching my brain about it.”
They both walked out of school, making their way towards the rabbit hole. But when they dropped down into it, it felt different than last time, more….peculiar. When they popped out Wonderland looked different. Duller and more dead, turning around they saw the rabbit hole boarded up with rotting boards.
“What the hell!” With one glance around Max could tell where they ended up, and he didn’t know if he liked it.
“I think….we’re in the past. This is what I was going to show you in the Iraculum, but for some reason the rabbit hole took us there instead.” He tried to place his hand on a leave but it passed through, almost as if he wasn’t real. “Wait… we’re not actually here?”
“Right you are Max!” They both spun around, the colorful kitten floating upside down in front of them.
“Chessy! Where are we?”
The kitten snickered, “The rabbit hole has many different powers and you are witnessing one of them now. You wanted to go to a different timeline, well here you are. Now, this isn’t something you can just wander until you go back, no. You will be following Red, your bodies will teleport to her if you decide to stray from the path.”
“What…”
Chessy disappeared before reappearing on Max’s shoulders, “You wanted to show Hazel Red’s past, but even you hadn’t seen it all. Well, here’s your chance. Let’s see if you still see her methods as…..heartless.”
By the time Max’s hand had moved to swat at the kitten she had already disappeared again. “You know I didn’t mean that, you had confused me!”
She reappeared lounging on a mushroom, “Maybe. But you still thought it.” Both Hazel and Max’s bodies began flashing slightly, startling them both. “Oh! It’s time. Enjoy your time in Wonderland.”
Neither of them got a chance to move before they were teleported into Red’s room, the girl in question putting a mask on and slipping up her hood, mumbling to herself. “Mother thinks she can just do as she wishes, well I’ll show her.”
She slipped out of her room, Hazel and Max both following.
“Where is she even going?” Hazel sounded genuinely curious as they followed the redhead.
“I don’t know.”
Red slipped out of the castle, creeping around in the shadows.
“I’m a rebel, I’m a menace, I’m a one girl riot it.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.
“Slipping through the shadows like I’m ultraviolet.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Is she actually singing right now?” Max just sent Hazel a look, as if reminding her about the singing battle between her and Luis. “Yeah, okay, fine. Nevermind.”
Red walked up cutting up the flowers as she passed them.
“Hearts on the walls, but no love in these streets.
“Appetite for destruction, a girls gotta eat, yeah.
“Devil on my shoulder and it won’t be quiet.
“Yeah, yeah.”
She walked up to her mother’s poster, a red filled balloon in her hand.
“Why does the queen look so mean? Isn’t she nice.” Max shook his head, “She’s evil in this timeline.” Hazel’s eyes widened.
“I’m on a path of destruction.
“This is gonna be fun!”
She threw the balloon, red paint splattering on the queen’s poster face. With a smile she ran over to the vases, smashing them.
“Damn. She really is getting into it.”
“Set it off, go berserk.
“Tonight I light it up like fireworks
“Burn it down, ‘til all they’re seeing now is
“Red, Red, Red, Red, Red.”
The guards could be heard stomping up, Red running to hide behind the bushes.
“Where did this Red go, she seems fun!” Max just kinda side-eyed Hazel. He did agree this one seemed more wild and fun then their Red, but at the same time this was their Red. She had mellowed out to try and be an HK, but she was still technically a VK.
“Soldiers at the ready?”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
“The Queen’s not very friendly!”
“That’s for sure!”
“Damn, now I want to know what she’s like.” Max just kinda sighed but couldn’t deny he wasn’t curious too.
Red snuck up behind the guard’s, standing behind them and mocking their movements.
“It’s criminal how you follow the crown.
“Fists in the air, boots on the ground.
“I hear the sound, yeah it’s gettin’ loud.
“Yellin’ Red, Red, Red.”
She threw fireworks under their boots, sparking pink and red sparks under them and making them jump. Suddenly, Max and Hazel were on top of one of the walls, Red standing there looking down at the guards on the ground.
“Princess of Hearts, lit after dark.
“Off with their heads, leave them for dead.
“Seein’ Red, Red, Red.”
“Off with their heads!? Jesus!”
“I’m on a path of destruction.
“They gon’ think I’m on one.”
Red started running, Max and Hazel’s bodies making them run after her.
“Set it off, go berserk.
“Tonight, I light it up like fireworks.
“Tear it down, then paint the town.
“Red, Red, Red, Red.”
“I don’t want my life ruled by some Queen.
“Look into my eyes, see the fire in me.
“Burn it down, ‘til all they’re seein’ now is.
“Red, Red, Red, Red, Red.”
Red hopped off the top wall, rolling and landing on one of the towers.
“Up all night
“Never question orders
“Protect the Queens boarders
“It’s either off with their heads or it’s off with our heads
“Get the Girl, Get the Girl
“Get the Girl, Get the Girl
“She’s painting our whole world
“She’s painting our whole world, Red”
Red flipped off the towers, cutting her mother’s portrait as she fell, slicing it straight down the middle before taking off into the alleys. Hazel and Max were running right behind her, following through the shadowy twists and turns of Wonderland's back alleys that she seemed to know like the back of her hand.
“This is clearly not the first time she’s done this.” Hazel seemed impressed and to be having fun, but Max was conflicted. Sure the VK version seemed fun and more wild, but what had actually pushed her to this point? What did she have done for her to turn to this?
Red continued running through the alleys before meeting a dead end, guards closing in on her as she looked for an escape route. Suddenly, a metal claw came down and grabbed onto the back of her hoodie, picking her up and carrying her away somewhere.
“Hazel…” The pirate looked over at him, “That looked like one of my dad’s machines.” The two didn’t have to wait long before they were teleported into a new room, Red getting dropped in as Maddox, looking nicer here, walked over to her. “Dad…”
“Those guards could’ve dragged you to the dungeon Red!” Red simply let out a sigh, flipping her hair out of her way as she plopped in one of his chairs. “What on EARTH were you thinking?!”
Red smiled and shrugged, “I thought my mom’s portrait could use a touch-up.” Maddox rubbed his face, looking stressed. “I’m seriously worried about you Red. If you continue down this path, I won’t always be able to save you. You know that, right?”
“Why does he seem so worried about her? Isn’t he supposed to be evil?” Max slowly shook his head, looking longingly at the father he could’ve had, “No…he’s..not evil here.” Hazel didn’t say anything except for a quiet ‘oh’.
Red scoffed slightly at Maddox’s concern, “Maddox Hatter, you can’t save me. I’m a prisoner of Wonderland. A lost cause.”
Max and Hazel could see their reflections slightly in this Red. The feeling of being lost, of just floating along without anyone to help. That didn’t mean it wasn’t surprising to hear the words leave the redheads mouth; so used to boasting comments and overflowing confidence from her, seeing her like this was….odd.
“You are not a lost cause. As your tutor, I’m in charge of preparing you for your future. And as your friend, I want you to have one.”
The conversation continued, but Max was stuck on that one word. Friend. That’s why Red cared so much about helping his father. Why she is trying so hard. She’s holding onto this version of him. She knows him as the person who helped keep her out of trouble, that she could vent to, that helped her with her mom. Not the evil villain the people of their current timeline knew, but the kind man and father of this one.
Max didn’t start paying attention again until they were back in Red’s room, the pocketwatch in her hand now. “Here we go.”
–
–
The next day came, Hazel and Max followed Red outside and into the courtyard as a guard announced her presence. Red walked up standing to the side between the Queen and the head guard. “I see you didn’t bother to dress for court. I find that outfit…offensive.” Red just smiled at her mother, acting as if it didn’t bother her. “I wish being me didn’t offend you.”
The two VK’s watched the interaction from afar, seeing the clear difference from their Queen to this one. “She..doesn’t hold her words here.”
The Queen sighed at her daughter, “Sorry to rouse you out of bed before noon, but while you were sleeping, the royal plaza was vandalized. And this sorry excuse for a soldier failed to protect my portrait. So the question is, what do we do? Poke thorns in his eyes? Off with his head? Since you’ll be Queen one day I’ll let you decide.”
“What kind of options are those? And why is she putting that on her?” They could both see Red freeze slightly, the guard getting even more nervous as the options were listed. “She won’t do it..right?” Both heads shook, of course she wouldn’t do it.
“It’s up to me?” The Queen nodded. “Okay. Well in that case…Off with his…”
Max and Hazel both watched as Red walked towards the guard, listening for her last word.
“Hat.” Red laughed as she grabbed his hat off and plopped it on her own head, looking over at her mother.
The VK’s nodded, having known she wouldn’t have done that, even here.
The Queen sighed, “Ugh. You're such a disappointment.” Red slowly took the hat off her head, watching her mother. “You know, I was the same way when I was your age. Desperately wanting to be a Queen everyone would adore. But if I’ve learned one thing, it’s this. It’s better to be feared than loved. Love ain’t it. Now, try again.”
Red paused, not moving before taking a deep breath and speaking again, “For your crime, you are sentenced to…” She stopped talking, clearly not wanting to do it. While the Queen behind her was getting more and more angry. “Get it right or I will show you punishment!”
Both Max and Hazel straightened up at that, the volume of the Queen’s voice snapping them up. “If she had those options for prisoners, what kind of punishments would she have for her own daughter?” Max knew she was only speaking outloud, but the thought sent a shiver down his spine. What would this version of the Queen be willing to do to her own flesh and blood? Is that the reason behind Red’s lack of love for touch and nearness, why she is so jumpy? That thought pissed Max off more than he thought it should.
Maddox came running in, interrupting the Queen and Red, handing her a letter from Auradon. It was Red’s invitation letter. The Queen somehow accepted it and sent Red away to pack and get ready. The next time Hazel and Max were teleported was ‘sitting’ in the car with Red and her mother. Red staring out the window as the car and her mother’s cards were searched.
“I’m just a girl
“Arm’s opened wide
“Looking for kindness, somewhere in your eyes
“I’m looking for something, I may never find
“All I want is love
“What you want doesn’t exist, cause love ain’t it.”
The two in the back could relate to this more than they wanted to, watching Red’s face switch from pained to stern, acting as if she didn’t care about her mother’s words.
“You say love ain’t it
“It makes me weak
“But how’d I know if I ain’t felt it yet?
“You say love ain’t it
“And I wish I could compete with all the grief you experienced.”
“Is she…trying to justify what her mother is saying?” Hazel didn’t even roll her eyes at Max’s comment, “Don’t act you haven’t before. We all have done it.”
“Love ain’t it
“And nothing’s as sweet as when you defeat all your enemies
“I say, love ain’t it
“And fear is more important if we’re gonna rule for centuries. Oh-oh!”
Both of the teens in the back stared at the Queen and then Red who wore a confused expression. By how the Queen was talking she planned to rule over Auradon, but how would that happen?
“Could it really be her
“They say there’s no one worse
“No one’s as mean; Mean as the Queen
“She’s been gone for years
“But now she’s appeared
“So hide under your beds
“Under your beds!
“That’s right!
“Or it’ll be off with your head; Off with your head!
“Out of my way, pleebs!
“Be careful where you go; Don’t make her upset.”
They both climbed out of the car, Max and Hazel following behind them as they walked up to check-in.
“Bridget? I didn’t expect to see you here”
Max and Hazel looked over to see Cinderella looking at the Queen, Chloe right next to her.
“Ella.” There was a pause before she continued, “It’s your royal highness now.” Ella nodded. “Of course. You must be very proud.”
The two girls watched their mothers interact before Chloe stepped forward, her hand out. “Um, hi! I’m Chloe Charming. You must be Princess Red of Wonderland. I’ve always wondered what it’s like over there.”
The VK’s watched as Red glanced at her mother, trying to figure out how to respond in a way that she would want. “You should come sometime. I’ll introduce you to the Jabberwocky.” Chloe brightened, stepping forward again, “Fun! What’s a Jabberwocky?” Red was quick with her response, “A monster that eats annoying girls.” She turned away, following her mother into the school.
Max and Hazel, still in ‘distance’ were able to stay back towards Chloe and Cinderella as they walked in, able to hear all four of them.
“So, you knew her?
“I saw through her; Cinderella and I were classmates
“No way.
“I spent way too much time in this place so, I had to escape
“Okay.
“The people here might smile, but they’re two-faced and too fake
“Wait, you went to Auradon Prep?
“Nope, wasn’t even called that yet.”
–
“Wow, that girl was super rude; What’s her problem
“What’s her deal?
“Some people act mean at first ‘cause they’re too afraid to feel
“It’s survival, it’s protection; That’s why roses grow their thorns
“Come on, whose side are you on? The only one worse than her is her mom.”
Hazel and Max both looked between Chloe and Red. The now close and almost inseparable best friends clearly did not like each other before. “Did she really just say Red was as bad as her mom?” Max could relate to the feeling of being compared to your parents. But Maddox didn’t kill anyone, the Queen very clearly has. Multiple times.
“Think about it Max. Charming clearly knew who Red was even though she hadn’t met her before. Which means others probably do too. How many rumors of how ruthless and evil like her mom is do you think have gone around and gotten twisted up here.”
Max had to give it to her, that was a fair assumption.
“Look hon, back in high school a mean prank was played
“And ever since that fateful day she was never quite the same
“It’s a shame
“What happened? Is it okay to ask?
“We came to celebrate the future sweetie, not dwell on the past.”
Red and the Queen got out of range from the VK’s who were still walking by the Charmings, suddenly being teleported to the Wonderland Royals.
“Ha, ha! Stand aside The Queen’s arrived
“Look at them so innocent
“Can’t believe they let us in
“Watch ‘em pay the consequence for being so dang insolent
“Can’t you smell their cowardice? Soak it up, devour it.”
Red walked over to the treats, clearly not caring about what her mother had planned. She picked up a macaroon about to take a bite before it was smacked out of her hand.
“Treats are for the weak; Let me show you what real power is.”
“Did she need to smack the food out of her hand? It’s a snack.” So far what Max was seeing he didn’t like it. Clearly the Queen didn’t actually care about her daughter, but ‘treats are for the weak’? That made him wonder what else she had been forbidden from eating because her mother deemed it ‘weak’.
“Quick Red, you gotta follow along; One day you’ll be on throne
“Automatic, just how I planned it.
“What about what I want?
“They gon’ fall like parachutes; They gon’ crawl to me on all fours
“What did they ever do to you?
“Red, what are you arguing for?”
Red walked away from her with a hand gesture, both Max and Hazel following even though she wasn’t going far. The Queen continued with her part of the song while her daughter watched from the sidelines, clearly not happy or enjoying her current situation.
Eventually the Queen called her back over, Red walking next to her as they walked towards Cinderella. The Queen turned Red away from the Charmings, opening her pocket mirror.
“Look into the mirror
“It’s our destiny
“Rule a million years
“With your right next to me
“Swimming in their tears
“Won’t they taste so sweet!”
Red looked scared out of her mind, disbelief plastered on her face. Max recognized the girl in the mirror, when they were going to stop his dad and had dropped into the rabbit hole he had glanced down at Red falling, seeing her stare into a mirror. This…girl was the exact same one that was shown in the mirror. That didn’t sit with him right.
The Queen went back to singing, Red joining in with her now; clearly accepting what was happening.
Suddenly both Royals were sitting down, Max and Hazel in ‘chairs’ behind them.
“That’s…The Looking Glass.” Bridget nodded, “Yes. It shows the future. Where you and I will rule together side-by-side.” Red shook her head, clearly distressed. “But I don’t want that. I don’t wanna be anything like you.”
The Queen’s voice raised, “You don’t…” Catching herself she cleared her voice before whispering, “You don’t have a choice. We’re more alike than you know.” Fairy Godmother walked in, beginning the same orientation that they had already had to sit through before. They tuned out most of it until something that hadn’t happened in their timeline caught their attention, both looking over at Uma.
“Now, I never got the chance to go to Auradon Prep. But as its captain, I’m proud to be charting a new course into a bright future, beyond the old ways of heroes and villains. So, in that spirit I’d like to welcome Princess Red of Wonderland.” Some people cheered, making Red look slightly embarrassed. Bridget started humming to herself, shuffling around her cards before Uma spoke up. “Excuse me. Hi. Do you mind?”
Bridget stood up, still shuffling. “I do, actually.” Red looked slightly panicked, leaning forward in her chair to speak. “Mom, what are you doing?”
The Queen clearly didn’t care about her daughter's discomfort, “Why, playing my favorite game.” She let out a laugh as she threw her cards up, the sky turning to look stormy and card guards fell down. Max and Hazel stood alert before remembering they weren’t actually present in this timeline. The Queen continued boxing everyone in the courtyard, Red calling out for her to stop.
Max couldn’t help but feel bad for her. His father wasn’t the best, but it was because he didn’t believe him. He didn’t hit him, or punish him like the Queen was doing. He was mostly…absent..desperate. The things that don’t make it possible for you to be an actual father.
Fairy Godmother's voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he looked over, prepared for her to put a stop to all of this with her spell. That was until the Queen sent a card flying at her wand and ‘snapped’ it in half, making it unuseable.
Hazel and Max both looked at each other with wide eyes, “Holy shit..” Uma was being held back by card guards as Bridget walked up to the platform, “Calm down, you’re all acting like you’ve never seen a coup before.”
Red ran up after her mother, Hazel and Max staying back towards the crowd as they watched, still with wide-eyes.
“Mom, this is crazy. Even for you.” The Queen still had a smile on her face, clearly pleased with the whole ordeal. “Crazy that it’s taken this long. I have been waiting years to be invited back into Auradon. So thank you, Red. You finally did something useful.”
Max could hear Hazel mutter the word ‘bitch’ under her breath but he didn’t care, his eyes glued to the redhead to see what she would do next.
Red shook her head, “I should’ve known this was never about me.” The Queen’s smile finally dropped, faux emotion plastered on her face. “Everything I do is for you.” Red didn’t listen to her, growing angrier, “That was my invitation. My school. My life.”
The Queen waved her off, “Someday you’ll thank me.”
Red clenched her fists, looking away from her mother. Cinderella had stepped forward now, speaking back to Bridget, clearly not giving in. The last straw was when she called Bridget a tyrant and disobeyed.
The Queen walked over to Red, purposely lowering her tone when speaking. “She’s denied a royal order. What do we do about that, darling?” Red clearly didn’t want to say it, just like with the guard Max and Hazel had seen earlier. She had walked closer to Cinderella ‘whispering’ to her. “Look, all you have to do is swear allegiance. Is that so hard?” Cinderella confirmed she wasn’t going to change her mind.
Bridget walked closer to her again, her tone dropping almost motherly. “Who are you loyal to, Red? These strangers…or your mother? Hmm? Now make me proud, for once.”
“She’s manipulating her. She doesn’t know all these people except for what the Queen has told her, while she has at least some kind of connection with her mother.” Max should know, his father had tried it a couple times before.
Red didn’t look like she was going to do it until Cinderella said she couldn’t. Then it was like a thread had snapped, Red stepping into that character. “Treason! She’s guilty of treason!” The Queen looked pleased as she walked forward with a smile, “Exactly right, my dear. And that means off with her head!” The crowd gasped as guards came forwards to take away the older Charming.
Chloe began running after her mom, yelling for them to let her go. The crowd around Max and Hazel whispering about how much Red was like her mother, and how she looked like she was enjoying their suffering. But when the teen VK’s looked at the redhead, she didn’t look like she was enjoying it; she looked guilty, like she had no choice but to follow orders.
The guards got closer to Chloe, the blue haired girl pulling out her sword. Red began running towards her, the pocketwatch out not. Both girls fought over the sword before a large flash of light went off, teleporting both girls and ‘timeline hoppers’ to an empty Auradon Prep courtyard.